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Park & Rec Commission selects oversight panel reps

NEW ULM — Two members of the Park and Recreation Commission were recommended for appointment to the Reinvest in New Ulm (RENU) Oversight Committee Tuesday.

The commissioners selected Toby Freier and Chris Vorwerk to serve on the Oversight Committee. The Oversight Committee will include the city manager, city attorney and the Park and Rec director, in addition to the two parks commissioners.

The Oversight Committee is expected to begin meeting before the end of the month. One of their first tasks will be to determine which RENU projects require subcommittees.

Possible Metal

Detecting Regulation

The commissioners recommended staff research possible metal detecting regulations for city property.

Park and Rec Director Tom Schmitz informed the commissioners his department has encountered issues with metal detecting on an annual basis. Sometimes the user is trying to locate a specific item, while other times individuals are hunting for valuables.

Schmitz decided to bring the issue to the commission after a recent incident in which a person was found digging holes in a city park while using a metal detector.

Schmitz recommended prohibiting recreational metal detector use in the parks, but allowing for it if the metal detector is being used to locate a specific lost item.

German Park

Playground

After several weather delays work on the German Park inclusive playground has resumed. Last fall work crews excavated the site and now this week the ground has been leveled to make way for the pour-in-place rubber surfacing and playground equipment.

Assistant Park and Rec Director Cheryl Kormann was not certain on which day the surfacing would be poured. The pouring of the rubber surfacing is weather sensitive, and the surface must be monitored as it sets. Kormann estimated the new equipment and surface would be in place next week.

Hermann Heights

reopen the weekend

Schmitz announced that the exterior of the Hermann Heights Monument will be open this weekend. The opening of the monument was delayed for a security and safety review, which has concluded. Visitors will be able to walk inside the fencing and walk to the top of the monument within the week.

The interior Interpretive Center in the monument’s base will remain closed for now. Schmitz said the Interpretive Center could remain closed until mid-summer.

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