WEST GEAUGA COMMUNITY JOINT RECREATION DISTRICT

Regular Meeting – January 20, 2026

West Geauga High School Library

President Greg Poe called the meeting to order at 7:50 pm. Board members present:  Evan Byrum, Ed Curtis, Rick Izant, Linda Palchick, Sara Sustin, Kristen Foerster, Greg Poe. Jason Abate and John Gromek were also present.

The minutes from the December 2025 meeting were presented by Monica Gromek. Linda Palchick motioned to approve the minutes; Rick Izant seconded.  Vote was taken: Evan Byrum, yes; Ed Curtis, yes; Rick Izant, yes; Sara Sustin, yes; Linda Palchick, yes; Kristen Foerster, yes; Greg Poe, yes. All in favor, motion carried

Pickle Ball Discussion:

Our guest this evening was Barry Levan; who was instrumental with installing 3 pickle ball courts in Chesterland. Sara Sustin explained she reached out to Barry to come to this meeting to summarize his experiences in presenting installing pickle ball courts at Parkside Park in Chesterland. Barry began: The WGPB club was formed.  56 members enrolled, the membership cost was $5.00/person which included training.  Chester was contacted with information/proposal.  If project is over 50K, it has to go to bid.  60x102 ft in asphalt.  Gave them the specs.  Competitive bids results: 250K.  They applied for a grand and did not get it.  2 wks. later the state changed the bid requirement to 75K.  Went back to the drawing board.  Results: got lower prices of $74,870.00 for 3 courts.  75 volunteers worked and dug out 30 feet across and 36” down.  Filled with cement.  The State of Ohio Nature Works grant last year went to Huntsburg.  Barry needed community information for a grant application.  Barry did not get the grant.

Rick Izant has a copy of the grant proposal.  Fundraising was next for 64K and Chester Township gave 11K.  Average donations received from 300 donors was $1,000.00. Input from Township was to have cement handicap parking. Question?  Can asphalt go over concrete?  20 ft. wide x 22 ft. to net slab. AWC Asphalt did an excellent job. Larry Podojil’s son did the excavating.  Put 2 ft. clay on the right side. Barry has THE manual that he will give to our Board for information.

Kristen Foerster said the WG Pickle Ball Club is $25.00 (fee) with 3 lessons provided for beginners at the game.   Discounts are also available on clothing and tournaments.  The Chester Park Board is against installing lights on the court.  Barry said he would help us with our Commons project of courts.  His data from 2022 said there were approx. 4 million people playing pickleball; all facilities are packed.   Our Commons park is open daily; dawn to dusk only.  Mentor has 16 courts. 

Discussion on the Paddle Rack system…When someone arrives, they put their paddle in the rack; so the next game can start.  There is an ambassador in the Club to help court usage run smoothly. 

Rick Izant stated the grant is due July 1, 2026; last year’s $$$ was for $60K.  County allocations will be published.  Can’t break ground until the award is made.  2026 Ohio new applications are not available yet.  Qualification is by application submittal.  Environmental requirements require Handicap applications also.  Barry was pleased with all the contractors he used.  Munson has 1 court for their residents which opened in 2023 for cost of about $40k.  A 10 ft. fence will be needed at our Commons courts; separating the 2 courts.  Our Board thanked and appreciated all Barry’s valuable information; ending this part of our meeting at 7:30 pm. 

Rick Izant said our Board will need a committee to begin this project.  Greg Poe suggested meeting separately before our monthly meeting.  The grant will not be awarded until November 2026; our project will be done then in 2027.  Rick Izant said that a cost analysis is needed now for this project; down to the penny.  Information will be presented to the Russell Trustees.  Donations could be used also.  Suggestion to post and accept donations for: paint, 10 ft. fencing, sand, etc. – as these amounts would not be run through our books.  Money could be taken in 2026 for this separate fundraising project.  Barry said he likes our idea of it being a 2 yr. project.  And he also said WG Middle School has been teaching pickle ball for over 35 years.  Sara Sustin and Rick Izant will continue to gather information and complete the ODNR grant.

The Commons Pickle Ball Club can be formed.  West Geauga courts are at Parkside.  Kristen Foerster asked who wants to be on our Committee. Our action plan will begin to look at the costs, then review our funds.  Barry will be glad to continue to help us with our Pickle Ball project.  Barry has a “How to Build a Pickle Ball Court” manual that he can share with us.    This part of our meeting ended at 7:45 pm.

Additional Board comments:  Is there a wetlands issue?  Distance from the river?  Any ADA requirements?  25% $$$ is needed – to be submitted.  5% can be in kind labor.  Who will be signing the application?

. Treasurer report - Ed Curtis

Treasurer Ed Curtis distributed the January 2026 treasurer’s report. The treasurer’s report showed: checking balance forwarded: $36,120.32; total disbursements: $3,037.75; total deposits: $5,000.00; ending checking balance: $35,120.32: Ending Savings Balance $24,515.54; total disbursements: $0; deposits: $2.22:  Rick Izant motioned to accept the treasurer’s report. Linda Palchick seconded.  Vote was taken: Evan Byrum, yes; Ed Curtis, yes; Rick Izant, yes; Sara Sustin, yes; Linda Palchick, yes; Kristen Foerster, yes; Greg Poe, yes. All in favor, motion carried. Linda Palchick motioned that the following bills be paid:

            Geauga County Commissioners                $1.00                        Lease Payment                                                                                                                                                                          Abate Landscaping                                       $375.00                   5 snowplows at $75.00 each                                                                                                                              Innovative Companies                                  $108.75                   Drag and spray Baseball Field                                                                                                                             Philadelphia Insurance Co.                          $1165.00                 D & O Insurance                                                                                                                                                      Minutes January 2026                                  $ 40.00                    Monica Gromek                   

Evan Byrum seconded the motion.  Vote was taken: Evan Byrum, yes; Ed Curtis, yes; Rick Izant, yes; Sara Sustin, yes; Linda Palchick, yes; Kristen Foerster, yes; Greg Poe, yes.  All in favor, motion carried.

Ed Curtis explained 2025 Year End Reports:

• Explained Annual Operating Results from 2025
• Certificate of Total Amounts (goes to Geauga County) – from all sources available for Expenditures + Balances
• 2025 Expense Detail (path paving an increased cost this year)
• Resolution read:

ANNUAL APPROPRIATION RESOLUTION (Permanent Appropriations)

The Board of Trustees of the West Geauga Joint Community Recreation District, Geauga County, Ohio  met in Regular Session on the 20^th day of January 2026,                                                 at the Geauga West Public Library with the following members present:  Ed Curtis, Linda Palchick, Rick Izant, Greg Poe, Kristen Foerster, Evan Byrum.  Kristen Foerster moved to adopt the following Resolution:

Geauga County, Ohio, that to provide for the current expenses and other expenditures of said Board of Trustees, during the fiscal year, ending December 31^st, 2026,

The following sums be and same are hereby set aside and appropriated for the several purposes for which expenditures are to be made for and during said fiscal

Year, as follows, viz:                                  That there be appropriated from the:

                                                      GENERAL FUND

                                          1000                Maintenance                           $91,700.00

                                          1001                Insurance                                 $ 3,800.00

                                          3000                Misc.                                        $ 1,500.00

                                                      Grand Total General Fund                  $97,000.00

                                                      Capital Fund                                        $29.000.00

                                                      Grand Total of All Funds                     $126,000.00

Linda Palchick seconded the Resolution and the roll call upon its adoption; the vote resulted as follows:

Ed Curtis, yes; Linda Palchick, yes; Greg Poe, yes; Sara Sustin, yes; Kristen Foerster, yes; Rick Izant, yes; Evan Byrum, yes.       

Ed Curtis also distributed the 2026 Calendar Reminders and assignments (by month).  The State of Ohio accepted the completed Hinkle State Financial filings.

Greg Poe complimented the Boards actions.

Facilities – Linda Palchick                          No report       Maintenance Contract will be reviewed and awarded in March 2026.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Maintenance – Jason Abate                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

There are weeds on the baseball field/diamond.  Ed will call Innovative Companies.

Sarah Sustin texted Barry Levan to ask if he did another 50/50 raffle for money for the Pickle Ball court project.  He texted, yes.

Evan Byrum motioned for meeting adjournment at 8:15 pm.  Linda Palchick seconded.  Meeting adjourned.  Next meeting at WG High school library on Tuesday,                                February 17 at 7:00 pm

Respectfully submitted,

_____________________________                     _____________________________                                                     

Monica Gromek, Clerk                                           Greg Poe, President