GJRA Monthly Board Highlights

The Board of Greenway Joint Recreation Association meets monthly on third Mondays, 7 pm, at the arena. The new year and new season begins on August 1st. The public is welcome to attend.

PROGRAMS:

• Baseball and Fastpitch online registration is open.
• Figure skating coaches are being interviewed since long-time Coach Kangas resigned; hiring two is being considered.

BUSINESS:

• Previous Federal grant options for expanding and resurfacing the parking lot have been dropped; may revisit in the future.
• A Blandin Foundation grant is in process for new front doors, electricity in the garage and improved outside lighting, an ice edger, field mower, and locker room renovations; decision anticipated in June.
• The association will switch to using the state's accounting program, Cities & Towns Accounting System (CTAS), and will eventually discontinue the accounting services of Glorvigan, Tierney & Company.
• CPA Brian Koehn will again be hired for the annual audit. GJRA's fiscal year ends July 31.

FACILITIES:

• The Greenway Sports Complex will use the services of Green Again for weed control, especially along the fencelines.
• The electric connection to the scoreboards is being reexamined for improvements as it has occasionally blacked out.
• Sponsorship banners for 2025 are being installed; new ones include General Waste & Recycling, and Home & Comfort.
• Brainstorming for additional multi-purpose greenspace is underway.

PROGRAMS:

• The annual show of Greenway Emerald Figure Skating Club was successful and well attended.
• The head coach for figure skating, Lisa Kangas, is stepping down after several years of service; she will be dearly missed.
• The Hockey coaches will be meeting (TBA) to evaluate the season and make recommendations if needed.
• The winter season for Hockey and Figure Skating are over; the ice has been removed; batting cages and nets have been installed in the arena for baseball/fastpitch practice.
• Baseball and Fastpitch registration is being streamlined between GJRA and Nashwauk with a central online point of entry, same dates and pricing; all still in process.

OTHER BUSINESS:

• CEDA is exploring grant options for expanding and resurfacing the parking lot.
• The final bill from CPA Brian Koehn for the annual audit was received; a committee is meeting (TBA) to discuss how to implement the state's City and Town Accounting System.
• Community members have initiated building a community center / clinic for physical theragy and social well-being (enjoying coffee together); sharing ideas and support were discussed. The project is in the infant stage; presented by Bob Schwartz and atheletic director, Will Floersheim.

NEWS:

• The annual figuring skating show will be held the weekend of March 15; the ice will be removed on March 16.
• GAHA hosted successful the Bantam A North Regional tournament.

IN PROCESS:

• Steps have been implemented, and more to come, to align GJRA with the state's audit guidelines. CPA Koehn has submitted the first state report. Budget adjustments will have to be made to incorporate the expense of an annual audit.
• Quotes are still coming, and a decision on how to upgrade the entryway doors is an action item on the future agenda.

NEWS:

• The Hockey, Figure Skating, and Basketball programs are in high gear, and successful.
• The Dryland Training room and hockey shooting set up are in full use.
• The Board is proceeding with Audit recommendations and received a 45 day extension for submittal.
• The Director and maintenance team are exploring more options for improving the entryway doors and at grant qualification.

The meeting was brief:

• Reviewed Audit process and options.
• Reported that all unused exercise equipment had been sold.
• Listened to GAHA's exploration of an outdoor rink; not feasible.
• Basketball practice starts for grades 1-2.

NEWS:

• The newly remodeled area for hockey shoot training is in regular use.
• To cover staff on weekends and miscellaneous tasks, three part-time workers have been hired: Mike Westlake, Thomas Vekich, and Doug Cogswell.
• To conduct an annual audit, the GJRA board hired Brian Koehn, CPA.

ARENA

• Dryland Hockey Training Station (photo above) is usable, albeit reservations are not ready yet as the space needs to be staffed. Most of the previous exercise equipment has been sold. The rubberized flooring has been installed.
• Updates to the lighting have qualified the building for a electricity rebate and savings over $2000.
• Replacement of the rounded portion of the roof has been completely paid off; funds were from savings, a IRRRB grant, and a $30,000 contribution from Greenway Amateur Hockey Association.

SPORTS PROGRAMS

• Flag football had a competitive season. With the new online registration system, next year the program aims to begin earlier and have a longer season.
• Hockey registrations currently total 123 players: 55 mini/mites; 27 squirts; 27 peewees; and 14 Bantams. Note that 9th graders have been moved up to Junior Varsity resulting in a lower number for Bantams.
• Basketball registrations currently total 70 players of both girls and boys: 5/1st graders; 12/2nd graders; 17/3rd graders making 2 teams; 17/4th graders making 2 teams; 8/5th graders for 1 team; and 11/6th graders.
• Figure Skating registrations exceed pre-COVID numbers: 113.

NEW EMAIL Pat's email is now GreenwayJointRecAssn@gmail.com

SPORTS PROGRAMS

• Flag football is in season and has 35 players.
• All registrations for future programs will be online with the new sports management system, Crossbar. GJRA, Greenway Amateur Hockey Association, and Emerald Ice Figure Skating Club are all on one website. Next spring, when all programs have transitioned to Crossbar, this dual platform will be discontinued.
• Basketball registration is now open
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GREENWAY SPORTS COMPLEX A final treatment of Green Again has been applied, and everything has been closed up for the season.

HODGINS-BERARDO RECREATION CENTER

• Stained ceiling tiles from the previous leaky roof, have been replaced.
• Items have been ordered for this project: dryland hockey training stations are underway. This project includes transforming the fitness room to a specifically designed station for practice shooting. Skates may be worn, and the experience simulates actual rink time. The other back room will be installed with rubberized flooring to cushion workouts. It is anticipated that the usage of that space in the building will be increase 30 times. GJRA is in partnership with GAHA for the expenses.
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OTHER BUSINESS GJRA is under advisement to conduct annual audit procedures, versus annual financial reviews or biennial audits. 

SPORTS PROGRAMS

• Squirts baseball champions were from Lone Pine.
• All fastpitch teams finished the season.
• All registrations for future programs will be online with the new sports management system, Crossbar. 
• Flag football and hockey are open for registrations.
• Basketball will begin earlier this year.
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DONATION

The Greenway Area Community Foundation contributed $2000, the cost to purchase 2 height adjustable (and portable) basketball hoops. The hoops will serve youth in training.



HODGINS-BERARDO RECREATION CENTER

• Roof replacement was completed;
• Flooring in locker room was completed;
• Re-organization of storage was completed;
• Rental for rollerskating completed its season.
• Developing dryland hockey training stations are underway. This project includes transforming the fitness room to a specifically designed station for practice shooting. Skates may be worn, and the experience simulates actual rink time. The other back room will be installed with rubberized flooring to cushion workouts. It is anticipated that the usage of that space in the building will be increase 30 times. GJRA is in partnership with GAHA for the expenses.

ELECTION (fiscal year is Aug 1 - July 31)

• Brian Eckholm of Nashwauk township is the president; Dan Strand of Calumet is the vice-chair. 
• Paula Schwartz is representing Taconite.
• The budget was adopted at $561,000. Two changes were made: electricity upped from $93,350 to $120,000, and increased by 10,000 the capital outlay savings fund.
• The levy was set at $380,000.