City Council sets some park user fees for 2013

Talk about it

The Hudson City Council on Monday night approved a 2013 schedule of fees for the use of park facilities.

There were two notable exceptions, however.

The Park Board hadn’t yet forwarded a recommendation on fees for the use of Grandview Park ball fields or for St. Croix River sailboat moorings next to the dike road.

Public Works and Parks Director Tom Zeuli said the cost of lighting the softball fields at Grandview Park had gone up 33 percent. He said a $10 per game increase in the ball field fee was proposed, but ran into resistance from Hudson Softball Association.

The association now pays $45 per game. The fee would increase to $55.

In response to a question from Mayor Alan Burchill, Zeuli said the revenue from Grandview Park fees in 2012 came $6,000 short of covering the expense of operating the ball fields.

He said the softball association reported that the number of teams was down, and there were fewer games.

The Park Board was going to continue its discussion of the ball field fees at its next meeting.

Alderperson Mary Yacoub advocated increasing the ball field fees to meet expenses.

“We’ve got too many other things to worry about to consider deficits,” she said.

The Park Board also continues to discuss solutions to the issue of sailboat dinghy storage. The ultimate plan for that could affect mooring fees.

Facility fees

A number of park facility fees will remain unchanged from 2012.

Rental of the large pavilion in Weitkamp Park will stay at $105 for city residents and $240 for non-residents, along with a $250 security deposit.

The fee for both the large and small Weitkamp Park pavilions is $115 for city residents and $260 for non-residents.

The fee for the large pavilion in Prospect Park is increasing $5 for city residents, to $90, and $15 for non-residents, to $210. The security deposit was cut $20, to $150.

On the recommendation of Alderperson Yacoub, the council established a new price category of $200 for rental of the Lakefront Park band shell for up to four hours by for-profit groups. The daylong price is $400, plus a $375 security deposit.

Non-profit groups can rent the band shell for $130 a day.

The council established a new multi-day fee (up to four days) for rental of the band shell at $600.

The fee for all the small pavilions in city parks is $25 for city residents and $30 for non-residents.

A complete listing of park facility fees is available on the city’s website, www.ci.hudson.wi.us.

Other action

In other action, the council:

Approved purchase of a Lucas 2 chest compression device and accessories for St. Croix EMS. A gift from the Hudson Hospital Foundation will provide $15,000 for the purchase, covering all but $74 of the cost.

St. Croix EMS Chief Kim Eby said the device will lock over a cardiac arrest patient and provide effective, uninterrupted chest compressions.

“Performing manual chest compressions of high quality is both difficult and tiring, and impossible in certain situations,” Eby said in a written statement. “The quality varies depending on who provides CPR, and deteriorates quickly after only one or two minutes.”

Eby said studies have shown that the mechanically controlled device is able to sustain a higher blood flow to the brain and heart compared to manual compressions.

Approved a new agreement with Regions Hospital to provide medical direction for St. Croix EMS. Eby said the ambulance service’s former medical director had resigned and has been replaced by Dr. Aaron Burnett, an ER physician who also works at Hudson Hospital. In addition to naming the new medical director, the contract provides for quarterly training of St. Croix EMS staff by Regions Hospital, at no additional cost.

Approved a certificate of compliance for Hudson Ford to use a building at 2110 Webster St. as an automobile detailing shop, preparing new and used vehicles for display on the dealer’s sales lot on the north side of the street.

Approved a resolution calling for the continued tax-exempt status of municipal bonds used to fund city street and infrastructure projects.

Confirmed the appointments of Douglas Torgerson as a special voter registration deputy for Christian Community Home and Karen Duchow as a deputy election clerk at City Hall. Duchow was recently hired as the full-time receptionist for the city clerk’s office.

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