Parks staff report recurring water‑line failures, new signage and equipment donations

Ken reported to the LaSalle County committee that the parks department recently installed new orange signs at five parking‑lot locations and received a donated vehicle from the sheriff's department.

He described recurring problems with the park water system: decades‑old unions and couplings are deteriorated, several sink hoses and fittings have popped off and the buried supply line has broken again in a previously affected area. “It’s probably 50 years plus old,” Ken said of a failing union that slides off when tightened; he said the buried break near the restroom will require trenching and a well contractor to repair.

Ken told members he can isolate portions of the system so some bathrooms can be used for a May 9 event and that staff plan to change the winter drain process to use an air‑hose blowout to prevent future frozen breaks. He also reported windstorm tree damage and that summer help resumed work on mowing. Routine maintenance items—flat tires on a county F450 and other small repairs—were also listed.

Committee members asked about grant activity and staffing; Ken said larger grant work is pending and that, with summer help returning, he will have more capacity to pursue grants and catch up on work. No formal vote or funding request was made at the meeting.