Osage Indian mural under construction

During an open house at The Art Shop, 114 E. Cherry, Nevada, John Flynn takes a close look at the first mural to be done in Nevada. The mural, titled, "Osage Archer," is painted on wood panels and was originally installed on the back of one of the buildings facing the city parking lot on Austin Boulevard. It was painted by the late Ed Koski, who also painted the railroad themed mural on east Cherry Street. The mural was damaged by water and is being restored by Cottey College students before it is re-installed at an indoor location; one possibility suggested is the Franklin P. Norman City/County Community Center.

"The parks department has done a good job of holding the line, and there are not many requests for increases in the budget -- a couple of vehicles and some capital improvements," City Manager JD Kehrman told the parks board during Wednesday's regular monthly meeting at the Franklin P. Norman City/County Community Center.

For the most part they are providing more services with the same budget as last year, he said.

"We need to do what we can to keep costs stable until 2014 when the park department has its own money," Kehrman said.

In 2015 it will be a "game changing budget," he said.

Parks board chairman Jeff Post told the other board members that they need to learn how to read the budget information they are provided so they can be good stewards of the tax money.

Post said that when voters approved making the parks sales tax permanent and allowing it to be used for operating and maintenance expenses as well as capital improvements, they did so with the understanding that the parks board would do a good job of overseeing how the money will be spent.

Dana Redburn, parks and recreation director, told the board that one expense they are looking at is purchasing a new tractor for the golf course.

"The current tractor was built in 1971 and has a 31 horsepower engine," she said, adding that they want a tractor with 40 horsepower to handle the work it is used for.

"They requested a tractor that is bigger and more fuel efficient and can do more things. It will cost about $25,000 on a five year lease-purchase agreement," she said.

Randy Marti told the board that the new maintenance building at Twin Lakes is almost completed.

"It's a twin to the one built for parks maintenance," he said.

The new building will be 40 foot by 80 foot and will be heated and air conditioned, he said.

Marti said that when construction of the new building is finished they will tear the old one, which had to be heated with a wood stove in the winter, down.

Post said that they will need to take a look at the fees for use of parks facilities in November and that he would like to try and keep the fees unchanged if possible, in spite of the problem later of needing to make larger fee increases.

"We need to let the new staff get started. Last year we focused on maintenance. This year let's show them what we can do," Kehrman said.

Parks board member Shirley Ann Bastow told the board that "The Osage Archer" mural is in need of repair and students from a Cottey College art class are doing the repair.

Bastow said that since the mural had been damaged by water where it was originally installed outside, it needs to be hung inside to prevent future damage from exposure to the elements; and one idea was to put it inside the community center.

Second year Cottey College dance students Hannah O'Bryan, left, and Jessica Waitz, right, lead a group of Nevada area youngsters in a dance class at the Franklin P. Norman City/County Community Center Thursday evening. The class is a cooperative effort between the community center and Cottey, with student instructors working under the supervision of their dance instructor, Christina Reader; and Phil Burres, community center director. They plan to hold other classes after Jan. 1.

Kehrman said that he would have the staff look at the building and see where the mural could be located.