DEVILS LAKE — The latest park board meeting was abound with positive updates.
Devils Lake Park Board staff members Jeff Brusven, Brent Schmitz and Andy Hokanson all had good news to share at the monthly meeting Wednesday.
Brusven said that Dockside Entertainment’s simulator price change, which went into effect at the beginning of November, has been a success. Business has been booming. Adding the half-hour option was a particular help in increasing participation.
Dockside also has golf league going on, in addition to hosting parties.
Later in the meeting, the board also did a quick vote on approving the new simulator rates for members vs. non-members. They agreed to make it $20 per hour and $10 per half hour for members, and $30 per hour and $15 per half hour for non-members.
As they continue to try to increase business at Dockside, the board discussed the idea of getting beer permits. They already have NDTC scheduled to come in after the new year and equip six TVs so visitors can watch games while they golf. The beer permit is the next step, which would allow people to bring their own alcohol. The board said they’re looking at options out of Fargo, Bismarck and Grand Forks. They discussed testing it out in the near future to see how it goes.
Things are also going along nicely at the ice rinks. Schmitz said that the men’s shower for Lake Region State College is 99% done. Bill Jerome Arena is also up to full speed; Schmitz said it was a little bit of a chore this year with the weather, as there was water dripping, but it’s ready to be shaved in the next week or two. They also added a new employee recently, and they’ve been able to schedule and communicate with him well. They still would ideally like to add two more workers.
Hokanson, meanwhile, recently got done closing the golf course for the season. He has the covers on and everything. He added that the Devils Lake boys’ hockey team helped out a bunch and that he really appreciates their efforts.
“I was really proud of them to show up,” Hokanson said.
The board also introduced its new Recreation/Concessions Manager, Josh Widmer, to his first board meeting.
Mindy Swenson, a representative for Blue Cross Blue Shield, stopped by as well to give an overview of what plans they offer.
There was also a brief follow-up to an issue raised at the last meeting, regarding the troubles they were having with the accounting software. Superintendent Dennis Nybo said gWorks asked them to write a letter explaining the difficulties. He presented a draft of this letter to the board for them to look over before he sends it. He just has to send it by the end of the month. The board approved the letter with minimal discussion.
Finally, the board went over an adult softball agreement, approved a five-year lease for Fort Totten Little Theatre and approved a list of proposed activity fees.
The next board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 16 at 12 p.m.
