Greencastle Park Board hears update on search for new director

On the coldest night of the winter thus far, the Greencastle Park Board Wednesday night learned things are heating up on the new park director trail.

While the deadline to submit an application for the position is Jan. 20, the city has already received several applications, Mayor Bill Dory reported at the monthly Park Board meeting.

Although the position is a mayoral appointment, Mayor Dory is creating an interview committee and asked for a member of the Park Board to serve on it. Park Board President Cathy Merrell agreed to serve.

“It’s kind of an exciting time to be moving forward,” Merrell said.

The mayor noted that candidates have been asked to answer certain questions as part of the application process. Once finalists are determined, they likely will be interviewed the same day if there were two or possibly over a two-day period if there were more, Dory said.

Board member Joanna Muncie asked Dory if there was a deadline for hiring a replacement for Rod Weinschenk, who resigned in November after 20 years as park superintendent.

“We’ve just got to see what happens,” the mayor responded, noting that the city has posted the job on its website as well as advertising it in state parks and national parks association publications and in the Banner Graphic.

Ideally, the new park director would be on board by March 1, allowing time to learn the ropes prior to the park opening and the first big event of the year, the annual Easter egg hunt at Robe-Ann Park. Easter this year is April 17, which would likely put the egg hunt on Saturday, April 9 or 16.

“Sooner rather than later, of course,” the mayor said of the hiring, adding that there needs to be time for interviews as well as allowing the eventual lead candidate to give the obligatory two-weeks notice at his or her current job.

The mayor also told the board the park house at the Robe-Ann entrance is “in need of refurbishment.” Use of the park house has traditionally been part of the compensation for the park director.

But, as the mayor noted, the new director may already have a home locally and not want to move or could have five or six kids and need a bigger house.

Minimum qualifications for the park director position include:

• A bachelor’s degree in outdoor recreation, parks and recreation, parks management or a similar field.

• Five years of professional-level experience in government, not-for-profit agency or private business in a related area.

• Three years of experience in an administrative position with supervisory responsibility over program management, budget and staff.

• Possession of certified playground safety inspector and certified pool operator credentials.

In other business, the Park Board:

-- Heard rave reviews reported for the second Christmas Lights in the Park effort. Work is under way on taking down the 70,000 lights put up this year under the auspices of the Greencastle Civic League. Assistant Park Director Chrysta Snellenberger noted that donations of $1,500 were received from people driving through Robe-Ann Park to see the displays over five nights. Park Board President Merrell called it “a really cool attraction,” noting how she and her family particularly enjoyed the new lighted areas around the tennis courts and the detail that went into the displays.

-- Heard Snellenberger report that 89 youngsters have signed up for youth basketball so far with another 29 in the kindergarten program.

-- Approved a $4,831.90 expenditure to purchase two new desks and wire shelving from Horizon Business Center for the park office. The desks replace old, broken ones in the office, while the shelving will replace shelves that had blocked an air duct, reducing circulation and accumulating dust.

-- Heard Mayor Dory report that two pending grants -- the Land and Water Conservation grant and Next Level Trails grant -- have been submitted to the state and are under review.

-- Heard Snellenberger report that the Breakfast with The Grinch event at 3 Fat Labs drew 51 people and raised $735, thanks to the donation of the event space.

-- Heard Maintenance Director David Bault note that he is using this time of year to repair and repaint park picnic tables. He and Snellenberger also said they cleaned up and repainted the park office as well as cleaned up the adjacent garage.

Board members Merrell and Muncie were joined for the short session by Tim Trigg. Board member Pete Meyer was absent.

The next Park Board regular session is set for 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 2 at City Hall.