Politics & Government
New Picnic Shelter Going Up in Oakdale Nature Preserve
Oakdale's parks commission talked about the new shelter and recent changes to the commission and the Oakdale Parks and Recreation Department's full-time staff.
Construction of a picnic pavilion at is under way.
The roof will be finished Wednesday, and the concrete slab underneath should be finished by the week’s end, Parks and Buildings Superintendent Randy Bastyr told the Oakdale Parks and Recreation Commission, at its meeting Tuesday night.
The shelter had been put in storage to make way for the , and is now being installed at the end of the cul-de-sac in the parking lot that’s just south of the center.
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The entire project should be complete by the end of August, he said, and the pavilion will be ready for rental usage in the spring.
In addition to parks projects, the commission talked about the transition among the Oakdale Parks and Recreation Department staff following the retirement of department director Bruce Anderson at the end of June.
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The city council decided not to fill his position, but rather promote from within.
Julie Williams was promoted from recreation supervisor to recreation superintendent. She will take on most of the responsibilities of the former director.
“I've been with department for 12 years in every position possible,” Williams said following Tuesday night's meeting. “I really feel it was a natural progression that I move into this new role. It's an exciting opportunity for me.”
Williams will be responsible for supervision of the department's three full-time staff members, as well as roughly 30 part-time staffers throughout the course of the year.
In addition, Bastyr has regained some of the responsibilities Anderson assumed when he joined the department. Bastyr has been with the department for 32 years.
Meanwhile, the Parks and Recreation Commission is in need of a new chair and a new member. Chairperson Jill Sadler resigned her position recently, leaving Rich Thielman as the acting chair. The commission is expecting to select a new chairperson at the August meeting.
Applications are currently being accepted for a new parks and recreation commissioner. Williams said any Oakdale resident interested in applying for a position on the commission can call Oakdale City Clerk Sue Barry at 651-730-2704.