(440) 729-7062
WEST GEAUGA COMMUNITY JOINT RECREATION DISTRICT
Regular Meeting – March 18, 2025
West Geauga High School Library, 13401 Chillicothe Road, Chesterland
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
President Greg Poe called the meeting to order at 7 P.M. Board members present: Evan Byrum, Ed Curtis, Chris Domonkos, Kristen Foerster, Rick Izant, Linda Palchick, Greg Poe and Sara Sustin. Jason Abate, Sarah Neale (Soccer Club rep), Tina Heffron (Rec Council rep.) and Kelly Graham (Baseball Federation rep.) were also present.
The minutes from the February 2025 meeting were presented by Linda Palchick in Monica Gromek’s absence. Sara Sustin motioned to accept the minutes. Rick Izant seconded. Vote was taken-Evan Byrum-yes; Ed Curtis-yes; Chris Domonkos-yes; Kristen Foerster-yes; Rick Izant-yes; Linda Palchick-yes; Greg Poe-yes; Sara Sustin-yes. All in favor, motion carried.
Treasurer’s report – Ed Curtis
Treasurer Ed Curtis distributed the March 2025 treasurer’s report. The report showed a checking balance forwarded: $ 46,095.35; total disbursements: $ 693.26; total deposits: $0; ending checking balance: $ 45,402,09; savings balance forwarded: $24,479.83: disbursements: $0; deposits: $5,54; ending savins balance: $ 24,485.35; grand total funds: $ 69,887.44; encumbered funds: $ 5,000.00; total unencumbered funds: $ 64,887.44; improvement fund: $ 43,120.93. Chris Domonkos motioned to accept the treasurer’s report. Rick Izant seconded. Vote was taken. Even Byrum-yes; Ed Curtis-yes; Chris Domonkos-yes; Kristen Foerster-yes; Rick Izant-yes; Linda Palchick-yes; Greg Poe-yes; Sara Sustin-yes. All in favor, motion carried.
Rick Izant motioned to pay the following bills:
Abate Landscaping Snow plowing x 5 $ 375.00
Vitale Asphalt Additional paving $ 24,265.00
Evan Byrum seconded. Vote was taken-Evan Byrum-yes; Ed Curtis-yes; Chris Domokos-yes; Kristen Foerster-yes; Rick Izant-yes; Linda Palchick-yes; Greg Poe-yes; Sara Sustin-yes. All in favor, motion carried.
Facilities – Linda Palchick
Soccer games will begin in April before Easter. Jason will have the nets up before, when we have a definite date. I have received 1 additional pavilion and field request from Mayfield Heights Parks & Recreation department to use both as part of a field trip for their summer camp. The date in July is temporarily reserved, awaiting their proof of insurance.
Maintenance -Jason Abate
The summer help will arrive from Mexico on April 1, 2025. Their first “job” will be to repair any damage to the Commons from the winter. The plastic doggie bag lids are broken. Jason would like to replace them with some metal ones that are available. He will check the cost and report back to the Board. He and his staff will be responsible for prepping the baseball field this year.
Old Business
No report on the WEB site due to the absence of Frank Formicelli.
New business
The representatives from the local recreation groups using the Commons were invited to speak regarding any problems or wishes they had. Sarah Neale represented the West Geauga Soccer Club. She said the Club would be having a total of 17 teams playing this year. The plan is to still use mainly the Commons for the 9-14 year ages, although they do use the high school turf field at times to get the older players used to the turf before they enter W.G. as they have in the past. Rick Izant questioned her on the Club’s plan to use Newbury field to move games there in the near future. She denied any plans for this spring but did say they might be used at some time at a later time, as might Mayfield Church for games. This spring’s tentative schedule will be out from their parent organization March 19th.
Tina Heffron from the West Geauga Rec. Council said they would again only have 4 teams of the ages that would use the Commons. Their schedule would be out from their parent organization on the weekend after this meeting. There has been no decision yet regarding the date when the fall soccer tournament would be held.
Kelly Graham of the West Geauga Baseball Federation said that they had 2 teams in the Pony and Colt divisions using the Commons again this year, starting with practices in late April and games about May 12th. They were full in their other leagues and would also be using Clay Eddy, Parkside, Chester School, Flesher’s field, St. Anselm and Newbury. The Federation plans on having volunteers be responsible for spraying each field and has someone that is set to drag and line the fields.
Chris Domonkos quickly reviewed the locations of the AEDs for the Board and the recreation representatives. He will be ordering them shortly and available within 48 hours according to the company. Classes on their use are available at Geauga West Library and at Clay Eddy Fields on April 5th at 2 P.M. for any coaches that are interested.
Kristen Foerster mentioned that a local resident who runs a yoga studio was interested in opening up free classes to the community using the Commons fields and wondering the procedure to arrange it. Both Ed Curtis and Linda Palchick noted that she would have to provide proof of insurance along with a permit. Kristen Foerster will get back to her with this information.
Due to the lack of use of the volleyball fields, Greg will get back to the Girl Scout who was interested in doing a project on the fields for her Gold Award, to see what exactly are her plans.
Ed Curtis motioned for meeting adjournment at 8:28 P.M. Linda Palchick seconded. Vote was taken – Evan Byrum-yes; Ed Curtis-yes; Kristen Foerster-yes; Rick Izant-yes; Linda Palchick-yes; Greg Poe-yes; Sara Sustin-yes. All in favor. Motion carried.
Respectfully submitted,
___________________________ __________________________
Linda Palchick, Secretary Greg Poe, President
