Board members spent a substantial portion of the October meeting discussing Community Park priorities and the appropriate use of Plains Metro District (PMD) settlement funds. Staff reported that the PMD settlement account currently holds about $1.1 million in funds and that the district is seeking direction on whether to prioritize irrigation replacement, field reconfiguration, plaza development or other park improvements.

Jeff, staff lead for the park effort, said the district has a conditional bid from contractor AeroJ in the amount of $550,000 plus a planned $50,000 contingency (total $600,000) for five pickleball courts. He said permits are in progress and surfacing is weather‑sensitive; if permitting and weather allow, surfacing could be completed in spring with a late‑April to May open window.

Directors and legal counsel discussed the scope of eligible PMD uses. Counsel advised that settlement language covers baseball and similar athletic fields and that irrigation, field improvements and other park repairs likely fit low‑risk interpretations; staff and counsel recommended prioritizing clearly eligible items to avoid legal challenge. Several board members expressed reluctance to spend large sums on full construction now without firm, bid‑level cost estimates, and suggested advancing design and construction documents first to secure accurate prices.

Public commenters urged caution: residents raised concerns about drainage, ongoing maintenance, policing and parking should new amenities draw larger crowds. One commenter suggested alternate district‑owned parcels (near Bradford School) as potentially more appropriate sites for high‑demand, high‑impact uses such as pickleball courts.

Directors agreed to continue design work with DHM and to prioritize durable, low‑risk park improvements (for example irrigation repair and field reconditioning) while seeking more detailed bids and clearer legal guidance on PMD eligibility for specific elements.