Meeker

Recreation district reorganizes

MEEKER I A public meeting was held Monday evening to discuss the survey results and phase two of the Eastern Rio Blanco Metropolitan Recreation and Park District’s master plan. There were approximately 15 people in attendance to hear representatives discuss the results and immediate plans for the district.
The first meeting was held in January to discuss the needs of the community and gather input from taxpayers as to the future of the recreation district. A survey was then mailed out to 1,594 people with 230 completed surveys, or 14.4 percent, coming back. The return result was said to be normal for this type of survey.
The survey revealed that the public is satisfied overall with the communication and general recreation district as a whole and wants to maintain what they have. They showed an interest in upgrading local tennis courts and the option of expanding the indoor facilities but realize this is a project that would take a great deal of money.
The district has taken over the maintenance and upgrade of the local parks and plans improvements for City Park and Paintbrush Park with an “optimistic” completion date of fall 2012. The trail system in the Phil and Dorcas Jensen park is expected to be complete May 16, 2012. The system will have a gravity-feed mountain biking upper trail and a lower trail for hikers or bikers that is nearly complete now.
The survey revealed a desire for a full trail system around the town. Improvements to City Park will feature a river walk trail that will go around the entire park and potentially connect to a town trail system. Other improvements include moving and upgrading the current playground and upgrading existing bathrooms and facilities. A full basketball court will be constructed and the current volleyball court made functional for the community. The park will include a new entrance with a concrete trail and a riparian theme throughout the park. The trail around the park will include picnic areas and interpretive signs for all public use.
The plans for Paintbrush Park include new playground equipment with two playgrounds for different ages. It will include a climbing facility and natural play area for the kids designed around the “paintbrush” theme. The plans include adding shade and shelter, along with full-time public restroom accessibility.
The district seems to be moving forward with the results of the survey and construction is underway or planned for the very near future. The money for these projects are in place without additional requests for funds and the master plan will include a timeline for further renovation of parks.
Tuesday night, the recreation district board met to discuss the master plan and survey and board members were pleased with the findings. They are excited about the changes ahead and hope to provide the best service possible to the taxpayers. The board also discussed a re-organization of the current management system and better defining the roles of employees. A pyramid copied from Illinois Recreation Districts and used nationally is the blueprint used. The pyramid puts ERBM district residents at the top of the pyramid, followed by the executive director, four managers in the areas of administrative services, aquatics, recreation and maintenance. Below the four managers are human resources, marketing and guest services under the administrative service manager. The aquatics coordinator under the aquatics manager. Recreation supervisors under the recreation manager, and housekeeping and parks under the maintenance manager. Below each of these are the human resources generalist, part-time advertising people, finance administrator, lifeguards, instructors, and swim team coach, gym supervisors, housekeepers, maintenance technicians and park laborers. Overall it amounts to 20 full-time employees, four part-time employees with benefits, 10 part-time employees and two seasonal individuals. The new system is believed to cut expenses in the big picture and clarify responsibilities of employees. Questions were raised about the recent resignation of two employees and cuts in programs with the answer that ultimately only the pool hours will be cut and staffing is always a forefront issue. The hope of the district is to hire the best people for the openings, according to executive director Mike Weinbrecht, who said “We want to offer quality programs and safety is a priority.”
The board plans to post available jobs immediately and staff is interviewing several applicants for lifeguard positions to maintain very realistic pool hours. Board members expressed appreciation for public input. Plans to move forward with the survey results and master plan are underway. The district’s summer guide was just released Monday showing the programs available. Information regarding the master plan can be obtained at guest services. There will be a meeting in July to finalize the master plan and public input is essential for final results.

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  • Jake Blazon at bat for the Meeker Cowboys. The MHS team brought home two wins against Olathe and lost two against the North Fork Miners. The location for this weekend’s games has not been announced due to weather and field conditions. Read the full story online at ht1885.com.
  • The 2024 Meeker High School boys basketball team held their awards banquet last week. Jace Mobley was named Player of the Western Slope League and all-conference, Ryan Sullivan all-conference, Jonathon Fitzgibbons all-conference, Ethan Quinn honorable mention all-conference, Jacob Simonsen honorable mention all conference. Mobley will play in All State games. Coach Klark Kindler was named Western Slope Coach of the Year. Left to right: Bryan Rosas, Simonsen, Quinn, Fitzgibbons, Mobley and Sullivan.
  • It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 
🐰 Hopping 🐰 your way this morning! Catch up on everything thats 🐣 hatching 🐣 in Rio Blanco County this week.
Need a copy? Signing up is fast and easy! Visit our website at ht1885.com/subscribe to get a copy sent to your door every week! 
We appreciate all your continued support!
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Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch.  See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
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Jake Blazon at bat for the Meeker Cowboys. The MHS team brought home two wins against Olathe and lost two against the North Fork Miners. The location for this weekend’s games has not been announced due to weather and field conditions. Read the full story online at ht1885.com.
Jake Blazon at bat for the Meeker Cowboys. The MHS team brought home two wins against Olathe and lost two against the North Fork Miners. The location for this weekend’s games has not been announced due to weather and field conditions. Read the full story online at ht1885.com.
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The 2024 Meeker High School boys basketball team held their awards banquet last week. Jace Mobley was named Player of the Western Slope League and all-conference, Ryan Sullivan all-conference, Jonathon Fitzgibbons all-conference, Ethan Quinn honorable mention all-conference, Jacob Simonsen honorable mention all conference. Mobley will play in All State games. Coach Klark Kindler was named Western Slope Coach of the Year. Left to right: Bryan Rosas, Simonsen, Quinn, Fitzgibbons, Mobley and Sullivan.
The 2024 Meeker High School boys basketball team held their awards banquet last week. Jace Mobley was named Player of the Western Slope League and all-conference, Ryan Sullivan all-conference, Jonathon Fitzgibbons all-conference, Ethan Quinn honorable mention all-conference, Jacob Simonsen honorable mention all conference. Mobley will play in All State games. Coach Klark Kindler was named Western Slope Coach of the Year. Left to right: Bryan Rosas, Simonsen, Quinn, Fitzgibbons, Mobley and Sullivan.
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It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 
🐰 Hopping 🐰 your way this morning! Catch up on everything thats 🐣 hatching 🐣 in Rio Blanco County this week.
Need a copy? Signing up is fast and easy! Visit our website at ht1885.com/subscribe to get a copy sent to your door every week! 
We appreciate all your continued support!
It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 🐰 Hopping 🐰 your way this morning! Catch up on everything thats 🐣 hatching 🐣 in Rio Blanco County this week. Need a copy? Signing up is fast and easy! Visit our website at ht1885.com/subscribe to get a copy sent to your door every week! We appreciate all your continued support!
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Mormon crickets have hatched near Rangely. They were all sighted on BLM land north of Hwy. 64 near the junction of CR 96 and CR 1, down a dirt road near the Moffat County line.  The picture shown was taken yesterday by Mary Meinen from Rangely. She says the crickets are about the size of a ladybug (less than 1/2”). Some of them are actually yellow in color but most of them are darker. They are milling around and getting ready to start moving soon. Note: Photo is not to scale.
Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch.  See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
Mormon crickets have hatched near Rangely. They were all sighted on BLM land north of Hwy. 64 near the junction of CR 96 and CR 1, down a dirt road near the Moffat County line. The picture shown was taken yesterday by Mary Meinen from Rangely. She says the crickets are about the size of a ladybug (less than 1/2”). Some of them are actually yellow in color but most of them are darker. They are milling around and getting ready to start moving soon. Note: Photo is not to scale. Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch. See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
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A crew from the Flat Tops Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation joined forces last summer to remove obsolete fences to improve habitat for wildlife. Read the full story and the foundation’s update from their 30th Anniversary meeting in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
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