Joyce Moen
Newton
The solution to reducing vandalism in the historic Fred Maytag Park is not by destroying the valuable historic property in the park so vandals cannot damage it.
The primary cause of vandalism in the Maytag Park is due to the absence of on-site park supervision by the Park Department Administrative Superintendent. He refuses to use the office in Maytag Park and rents office space at the Arboretum instead. This situation, plus failure to discontinue 24 hour “easy entrance” to Maytag Park, places the park, its users, and its valuable contents at risk.
The monetary cost of not using the Maytag Park superintendent’s house and office is unfair to taxpayers and the lack of on-site park supervision is putting park users and the park at risk.
I reported a hole in the door of the south historic toilet a year ago and it was repaired. There has been no visible damage to them since then. Enclosing them with chain link or wrought iron fencing is a possible solution to deter vandals.
The large planter was demolished, and the reusable children’s park equipment given away rather than placed in other Newton parks. The historic Maytag Park and the historic downtown square both need to be given good care and be economically beneficial. Destroying the honored features in a historic park is neither.
Cost for Newton’s Non-City Use of Maytag Park Superintendent’s House
(2013 and early 2014 from City provided data)
Rental Income
Annual Revenue from House Rental to Non-City Employee — $ 7,332
(2013 rental price of $611 per month.)
Park Expenses Paid by the City (2013)
• Annual Expense City Pays for Renting Arboretum Office Space — $1,200
• Secretarial Service for All Arboretum Users — $23,500 (May Vary)
Hires a part-time assistant in summer at $805per mo.)
• Telephone Service at the Arboretum Office — $2,928 • Annual County Taxation for Non-City Use of City Property — $1,346
• Tenant's Annual Water and Sewer Cost Paid by City — $360
• Park House Gas Paid by City (Black Hills Billing) — $1,080
• Electric Service Paid by City (Alliant Electric) — $840
• Insurance Coverage for Park Superintendent's House — $557
• Police Calls to Resolve a Park Problem (at $ 34.50 per hour) — $12,420 (approximately 360 calls for Police to Maytag Park or next to the Park during 2010, 2011, 2012) Average at 120 year Sixty-one of the 360 required a Police report.
• Police Calls for 2013 (95), 2014 (Jan. to Oct. 26: 70 calls) $5,692.50
Total costs — $49,923.50