Jasper Parks approves property sale, court closure for safety issues, Eagle Scout project and more

The Park Board reapproved selling portions of the former Camp Carnes property following a public hearing where no community members voiced concerns about the proposed sale.

“Several years ago, the board went through the process of analyzing or identifying and analyzing underutilized properties. And as part of that process, Camp Carnes was identified as possible property,” City Attorney Renee Kabrick explained.

During that process, Little Spruce Nature School began leasing a portion of the property for its activities. Facility maintenance issues and renovations led the city to split the property into three lots, selling one to the Little Spruce Nature School while retaining ownership of lots 1 and 3.

While the sale to Little Spruce proceeded, the other property sales were slowed due to various issues. Kabrick told the board that, with the time since the initial decision, she preferred them to reconsider a resolution for the sale and hold another public hearing.

She then outlined the issues.

Lot 1 contains a residential home that has experienced septic system issues. Kabrick said that soil analysis has been completed, confirming that a new septic system needs to be installed. Cost estimates for the septic work have been obtained and according to Kabrick, they are ready to move forward with the sale process for Lot 1.

However, Kabrick noted that as they considered moving forward with the sale of Lot 3, a nearly 28-acre wooded area, they found that some residents in Idlewild had encroached on a portion of the property. She recommended a small portion of Lot 3 – less than seven-tenths of an acre – be sold to the adjacent property owners from Idlewild Lake Incorporated.

“It’s a very small sliver of property right off of the west property line of our Lot 3 that we have administratively subdivided off,” she explained. “It would allow those lot owners in Idlewild to maintain their outhouse, a couple of fire pits, the corner of somebody’s building.”

The board determined this small portion’s “highest and best use” is to be sold to the adjacent property owner, who has already made an offer consistent with the average of the appraisals.

When asked about minimum bid requirements, Kabrick confirmed that the city will use the average of two appraisals as the minimum acceptable bid for the properties. For Lot 1, which requires a new septic system, the appraisers adjusted their valuations based on the cost of the necessary septic work.

The sale process will follow standard procedures. After receiving common council approval, the city will advertise the parcels in the newspaper, including the minimum acceptable bid. Potential buyers will have approximately 30 days to submit bids.

The resolution now moves to the common council for final approval before the sale process can begin.

The public hearing portion of the meeting saw no community members come forward to comment on the proposed sale. After confirming no public input, the board closed the public hearing with a unanimous vote before proceeding to approve the resolution.

The board also heard from Eli Rasche, a scout from Holy Family Troop 185, who is proposing an Eagle Scout project for one of the park department properties.

Rasche, a junior at Jasper High School, proposed building a wooden arbor as the entrance to the Veterans Garden near the Schaeffer Barn. The planned structure will be 12 feet wide, 10 feet deep, and 7 1/2 feet tall, creating a formal entrance to the garden near the barn.

During his presentation, Eli explained, “This arbor will enhance the Veterans Garden area and create a lasting space to honor and remember those who’ve served.”

The project features two benches on each side of the arbor, providing visitors with a place to sit and reflect. Inside the structure, a wire will be installed to display personalized dog tags in memory or honor of local veterans.

Eli is working with the Daughters of the American Revolution, who have given their approval and support for the design.

With help from fellow Scouts and Scout leaders, Eli aims to complete the project by Strassenfest. The estimated cost is around $2,000, with most materials already donated.

Community members will be able to purchase and personalize dog tags to be displayed on the arbor. Eli plans to promote this aspect of the project through social media and with help from local veteran organizations.

The Jasper Park Board unanimously approved the project to move forward.

The Jasper Park Board also decided to close the pickleball courts at Gutzweiller Park due to safety concerns and deteriorating conditions. The decision came during the board’s regular meeting on Tuesday, where members discussed the 55-year-old facility’s significant structural issues.

“It’s getting to the point where it could be dangerous before too long,” Park Director Tom Mooman told the board. “It was a really rough winter with the way it was. Those cracks are starting to get bigger and bigger.”

The courts, originally installed in 1969 as tennis courts, received their last coating approximately 12-13 years ago. That coating typically lasts 8-10 years, putting the current surface well beyond its expected lifespan.

Board members noted several compounding factors that led to the closure decision, including significant cracks in the playing surface, drainage problems, and the court’s gradual settling as it moves down the hillside.

“I went up and looked at it. You shouldn’t be playing on it, shouldn’t be doing anything on it,” Park Board President Roger Seger stated. “You shouldn’t be rollerblading, skating or anything else on it because you’re going to hit one of those cracks and something’s going to happen.”

The board discussed potential options for the facility but determined that repairs would be prohibitively expensive. The court’s location on a windy hilltop also makes it less than ideal for pickleball, which is more affected by wind than tennis.

“I don’t think right now is the time for a budget to go out and put a bunch of money into pickleball courts that probably shouldn’t be there in the first place,” Sege said.

While no final decision was made on the ultimate fate of the courts, the board voted unanimously to close them immediately. Officials will return at the next meeting with a comprehensive proposal for how to proceed with the property.

The likely outcome appears to be demolition, with park staff suggesting they could handle the removal internally at a cost of approximately $2,000 to $3,000 for equipment rental. The proposal would involve removing the fence, burying the court surface, and returning the area to grass.

The board emphasized that Jasper still has 12 other pickleball courts available throughout the city, including recently constructed facilities at Buehler Park.

In other business, the board received several positive reports from various park facilities, with many reporting record-breaking attendance for the month of May.

The Older Americans Center reported its best May on record with over 3,000 visitors, exceeding the previous year by approximately 300 people. The center continues to offer popular activities, including water aerobics at the new pool, exercise classes, and organized trips.

“I can’t imagine too many communities in Indiana bettering the programs that we’ve got for the older Americans,” Seger noted.

Dana Reckelhoff reported strong numbers with 3,240 visitors to Jasper’s Mill and Anderson School House in May, compared to 2,528 last year. The department hosted eight school groups during the month, including four returning groups and four new ones.

Kurt Uebelhor, Buffalo Trace Golf Course manager, reported revenue of $112,053.20 for May, an increase of $8,908.62 from the previous year. The course sold over 1,000 baskets of ball for the driving range for the month.

He noted ongoing challenges with Bermuda grass growth on the back nine due to cool weather. The board approved a motion to seek pricing for sod for the back nine holes at a cost of up to $25,000 to address areas damaged by winter weather.

Moorman reported the new municipal swimming pool is proving extremely popular since its recent opening. While complete numbers will be presented at the next meeting, officials reported that in just 17 days of operation, the pool has already seen over 6,000 swimmers. For comparison, the entire 2023 season saw 12,000 swimmers total.

“I cannot say enough good things about every single person that had something to do with that pool,” said Moorman. “It’s been very successful so far, well utilized.”

The board also accepted $560 in donations related to a recent tree giveaway event, with the funds to be placed in a restricted-use fund.

Dog park memberships continue to grow with 10 new memberships in the past month as warmer weather encourages more outdoor activities.

The meeting concluded with praise for the entire parks department staff for their efforts across all facilities, particularly with the successful pool opening requiring significant resources while other park operations continue to see record numbers.