Council president Ken McFarland asked if it would be possible for Zellers, who is also town manager, to be a liaison between the park board and town council instead of a park board member.

Council attorney Justin Schramm noted the council could appoint any number of people to the advisory board. In the end, the council appointed Zellers to a four-year term.

All park board members will eventually serve four year terms. But the council staggered the terms of the first board so that one member will be appointed or reappointed every year. Poor will serve a three-year term, Schramm a two-year term, and Chapman a one-year term.

It took several votes for the council to select the park board (which is required by law to have equal political party representation).

An initial motion to appoint Zellers and Schramm from the Republican list died for lack of a second. The council then voted unanimously to appoint Zellers. Schramm was then elected on a 3-2 vote, with council members Judy Heater and Jim Watkins opposing.

Poor was nominated from the Democrat list and approved unanimously.

John Simmermaker, Sherry O'Connor and Chapman were nominated in turn from the Democrat list. The motions for Simmermaker and O'Connor died for lack of a second. Chapman was approved in a 4-1 vote with Heater opposing.

For now, the town council has decided on a four-member park board. The council can expand the board in the future, but any additional members would have to be chosen by either the Eastern Pulaski Community School Board or the Pulaski County Public Library Board, not the town council.

The town council voted in April to reorganizing the existing park board into a parks and recreation board which would meet state code. It is hoped the move will open up opportunities for grant funding that isn't currently available to the community, and could prove helpful for the town’s swimming pool rebuilding project, as well as other park and recreation programs.

The new park board members will draw up a charter with the town attorney which will establish which powers belong to the park board and which remain with the town council. The park board will then complete a five-year master plan for its parks.

In related business, Zellers and town clerk-treasurer Melanie Berger reported they recently spent some time with the park manager in Monticello where they learned some helpful information, including leads on grants that may be used for the pool project.

In other business, Berger spoke to the council regarding internal controls being mandated by State Board of Accounts. Register equipment will need to be purchased which includes installation in the amount of $1,300 so each deputy will have her own cash drawer. The council voted to allow the purchase of equipment as required by State Board of Accounts for internal controls standards.

Zellers stated that in the past, trees along the highway have been removed by the state. He received a letter from INDOT, and they are no longer taking down trees. It is now the responsibility of the town. Zellers is making a tree list and will also call INDOT.

Council vice-president Tom Murray reported that golf carts are being driven on Franklin Street, part which is a state highway (SR 119). Zellers will ask the police department to watch for the golf carts. Murray also stated that the tree sign at the north end of town, which has been taken, needs to be replaced.

Heater asked if a letter had been delivered to the Community Foundation regarding the $150,000 donation from the town toward the pool project. Berger informed the council that she had spoken with both the DLGF and SBOA regarding the process of transferring the $150,000 from EDIT to the General Fund and it was decided the best procedure would be to rescind Resolution # 4 of 2016 and prepare a Resolution not to spend the $75,000 that was budgeted for 2016. In 2017, appropriate the entire $150,000 for the pool. Attorney Schramm will have the necessary documents for the next council meeting.