Offer to be made on Parks, Rec director position in Brookings

Nationwide search led to more than 40 applications

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BROOKINGS – The process of finding a new director for the Brookings Parks, Recreation & Forestry Department is edging closer to completion.

“City Manager (Paul Briseno) will make an offer this week,” Assistant City Manage Jacob Meshke said at Monday night’s Park & Recreation Board meeting. “Pending background checks and reference checks, board and staff will be notified of that decision in the coming weeks.”

Meshke, who was acting in his role as interim director of the department, said that the nationwide search led to more than 40 people filing applications for the position.

“Many of those applicants had director experience in similar-size or even larger communities than Brookings,” he noted.

Meshke added that the initial 40-plus applicant pool was whittled down to nine for the initial round of interviews. Out of those nine, five made it to the final round of interviews. 

The new director will replace Dustin Rodiek, whose resignation took effect Oct. 14.

Technology praised

Also at Monday’s meeting, Parks & Forestry Superintendent Al Kruse said eight iPads have been employed to assist with the city’s snow-removal operations. He said the computers been placed in sweepers and blowers and are expected to greatly improve efficiencies through better communications, especially when it comes letting equipment operators know when an area has been finished.

“When they’re done with something, they push a button and it shows a mark and it connects to everybody else’s iPad so we don’t go to spots that are done already,” Kruse said. “It’ll save a lot of time (since) it’s hard to call on a phone and keep in touch because sometimes you don’t hear it in those machines.

“Just from the little we’ve used it, the guys love it,” Kruse added. “It’s going to work great. The guys, I haven’t seen them this excited … in a while.”

He noted that the iPads will also be used for tracking trees, stumps, mapping irrigation and so on.

In other business, the board also heard about:

• Recreation Manager Stacy Claussen says the Larson Nature Center at Dakota Nature Park will be closed Dec. 16-18. The floors are being waxed and so time is needed to allow for proper drying.

• Edgebrook Golf Course closed for the season on Nov. 7 and has been winterized, said course Superintendent Greg Redenius. He added that LED light conversion has taken place in the course’s parking lot, which has improved lighting conditions.

“That lights up just about as bright as a stadium now,” he said. “It’s quite nice.”

• Kruse said they’d like to prepare the outdoor ice rinks for use, but that temperatures aren’t cooperating. They’re good at night, but still get a bit too warm during the daylight hours. He said that if that changes, then he will send crews to do the work.

– Contact Mondell Keck at mkeck@brookingsregister.com.