By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
Mona will be part of the Nephi Recreation Department as a partner for some programs which will now be held in the city. It was fast, quick and easy with Frank Riding, council member, making the motion and Mike Stringer, council member, providing a second and all council members voting in favor of the city adopting a city parks and recreation field use policy and procedure as well as agreeing to partner with Nephi in providing recreation programs inside Mona. Melinda Matheson, representing Nephi Recreation Department, met with the council two weeks ago and presented a plan for the city to provide additional recreation programs in Mona so residents do not have to drive to Nephi for all their recreation benefits. "This will be in addition to the 603 youth participants and 86 adult participants from Mona who participated in recreation programs in 2017," she said. Bill Mills, mayor, thanked Matheson for preparing the policy and procedures for the city to adopt. "We appreciate the work you went through to get this ready," he said. The mission statement reads: "Mona City Parks and Recreation Department provides a variety of leisure services and programs for all of its citizens that add to the overall quality of life with equal opportunity for participation regardless of race, economic status, or gender, especially for youth." In order to accomplish this, the statement continues, "we feel it important to provide fields and equipment that are well maintained, and enthusiastic staff well-trained and anxious to serve, public leaders will to support general funding and support from the general citizenry." The policy field use is intended to provide clear rules and guidelines for the equitable use of the fields by the public. "We will coordinate with surrounding communities—Nephi City, Rocky Ridge, Levan— and various organizations and youth groups to increase the leisure service capability," she said. Katrina Long, council member, said that one group had worked to make the baseball field usable and had done so with the understanding that they would have use of the field one night each week. She thought that the verbal agreement the city had with that group needed to be honored. "It will be," said Matheson. She said that the south field was also being fixed so that there would be more playing space. Mills said he agreed that the group should have priority for one night as a reward for repairing the field but did not think they needed two nights. Mary Wolforth, principal of Mona Elementary, will schedule the school fields for the district, said Matheson. It was thought that use of that field would be free. "I was the mayor at the time," said Everd Squire, finance director, "and we did donate the land." Frank Riding, city council member, asked if the city could afford $400 in materials, he would do the work, to replace the slivery deteriorating boards in the bleachers and repaint them. That would give the south field bleachers new life. "If we have to prep the field for a game," said Matheson, "there should be a charge. It takes time and materials to do that." It takes chalk to mark the field and, prior to that, employees have to drag the field. There would, however, be no field preparation charge for a practice. Matheson said that she would be determining scheduling and completing preventative field maintenance in a manner that best protects user safety and long term field conditions. "Fees will need to be charged," said Mills. "We will see what works and then will move forward (with that knowledge) in planning next year." Matheson said that the recreation department would identify the available fields and dates of usage and would secure fields for Mona City Recreation/Nephi City Recreation programs, teams and participants and would manage the fields in a fair and equitable manner by defining users and establishing priorities. "Scheduled games will have priority for use of the field over practice," she said. "Makeup games can displace non scheduled practices and scheduled league play has priority over a later tournament application." Those wanting to reserve the field had to do so by going to the city office and filling out the reservation application. They could also e-mail monacityparkandrec@gmail.com. Those requesting field prep needed to submit an application no later than 10 days in advance. There are 18 rules and regulations that have been set for those using the fields. One of those, #10, states that the use of fencing or backstops for "pickle," "pepper," "soft toss," or batting practice is strictly prohibited. "Climbing on fences, backstops, dugouts or other sporting equipment such as soccer goals is not permitted," states rule 11. Rule 14: "Outside sourced concessions or vendors (non-food) are not permitted at any Mona City Parks and Recreation field unless approved by the Mona City Parks and Recreation."
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