June Meeting Minutes

 Bemis Neighborhood Meeting

June 11. 2024 @ 6:30 pm

Augustana Church 

  Meeting called to order by President Joe Pittack at 6:30 pm. 11 attendees at tonight’s meeting.

  Joe asked everyone to describe their favorite activity to do in June.

 Treasurer’s report of $6,153.92. Bemis Park received $1,500.00 from a grant from MNA.

 No speaker for tonight.

 OLD BUSINESS

  Tennis Courts: Adding Paddle Ball nets to existing court, Wish List and logistics.

• Mary has applied for 3 grants; 1. Omaha Community Foundation for $5,000.00, 2. Omaha Parks Foundation for $2,000.00 and, 3. Cox Communication for $5,000.00. Grant money will be used to help pay for any changes made to the Tennis courts.

• Joe showed a design of how the courts would look with 1.) 1 tennis net/2 paddle ball nets or, 2.) 2 tennis nets/3 paddle ball nets. We would need to have portable paddle ball nets on the second option. Joe had met with Dennis Byers of Omaha Parks about the designs.

• Wish List for the court

1. Resurface and restripe the court; 2.) 1 tennis/2 paddle ball, 3.) 2 tennis/3 paddle ball; 4.) Painting the courts; 5.) Repair/replace the walls on Lincoln Blvd. They are eroding, are hit by traffic when traveling of Lincoln Blvd. Expense adds up the longer we wait to address this in the future; 6.) Lighting/Security. There are no lights at this time. 7.) Drainage and Vegetation control. May need to contact Whelan’s for input and cost estimate if addressed; 8.) Add one more bench; 9.) Plants around the court. 

• Reservation process for the courts. How would it work and who would be responsible need to be worked on if the neighborhood wants to add this duty.

Summary: Items list on the Wish List, #1, #4 and taking care of the fence will be the priority for Bemis at this time. Having 1 tennis court and 2 paddle ball courts would be more cost effective since resurfacing and restriping the court have cost estimates of $40,000 to $90,000 for the 2 tennis/3 paddle ball courts option. Mary had contacted three vendors and these amounts were given to her. A meeting is scheduled on June 25th with Matt at Omaha Parks about the courts and how Bemis wants to proceed. 

Ballfield Update

A lot of rain lately creating washout conditions on the ballfield. The field has been used a lot lately by a neighborhood group. Odies will be contacted plus MUD will be approached asking for help from them.

Garden Party on June 29th starting at 5:30 pm. Cost is $20.00 apiece, travel to 3 neighboring homes in Bemis. Food and drinks will be supplied.