SMART Board of Directors Meeting – Meeting Minutes – June 23rd 2025

Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
June 23, 2025

7:00PM- SMART Building
Members Present: Jodi Varner (President), Kendyl Polatas (Vice President), Stacey Teter
(Treasurer), Karol Zachmann, Shannon Johnson

Members Absent: None

Staff Present: Krista Nemitz (Interim Executive Director) Staff Absent: Alyson Lineback (Executive
Assistant) Public Present: none
Meeting called to order at 7:02 PM by President Varner

resident Varner asked for a motion to approve the consent agenda.

• MOTION (Director Polatas): To approve the consent agenda.
• SECOND: Director Teter.
• VOTE: Three in favor, one absent. Consent Agenda approved.
  Old Business:

Firespring-Website: Discussion focused on the two available plans offered by Firespring: the
Engage plan at $165/mo. and the Cultivate plan at $95/mo. Director Teter inquired whether switching
plans would impact the existing QR code signage at the pocket park.

7:06PM Director Johnson arrived at the meeting.

It was noted that an upgrade to the Firespring membership could be made in the future if needed;
for now, the lower-cost plan will be selected to reduce expenses.

Possible Sale of 125 Main Street: An offer letter was received for the intended purchase of the 125
Main Street property. The deadline for the first round of offers is June
28th. The Executive Director will track the certified letters to ensure they were delivered. The
sale of 125 Main Street will be tabled until the deadline has passed.

Additional Funding Request: President Varner reported having spoken with the tenant of Straub
Heating and Cooling regarding the upcoming remodel of the Simply Chic rental space. The tenant did
not anticipate any conflicts with the remodel’s plumbing impacting his space. There may be a
potential conflict if the back offices are remodeled.

• MOTION (Director Zachmann): To not allocate any additional funding toward the Simply Chic
• MOTIO
  emodel.
• SECOND: Director Johnson.
• VOTE: Three in favor, One opposed. There will be no additional funding allocated towards the
  Simply Chic remodel.

Executive Director Recruitment: President Varner and Director Polatas interviewed a qualified
applicant for the open position of Executive Director. The interview went well and both board
members recommended hiring the candidate.

• MOTION (Director Zachmann): To hire Katherine Miller for the full-time position of Executive
  Director,
  offering $52,000/year salary with a cell phone stipend of $50, two weeks vacation and no
  additional benefits, 6 month probationary period with a potential raise upon satisfactory
  performance.
• SECOND: Director Johnson.
• VOTE: Four in favor, None opposed. SMART will offer Katherine Miller the full-time position of
  Executive Director as motioned above.

Pocket Park Maintenance: The Executive Director contacted Shaun Crisler about the deterioration of
the cement pads. He gave a rough estimate of $785 to hammer out the old concrete and pour a new
pad just outside the Visitor Center door. There was discussion centered around the possibility of
replacing the concrete with pavers. Director Polatas planted some flowers and perennials in the
park. The perennials will need to be moved into the BSB Building before winter. Ethan Boyer raked
debris in the park and sanded all the planters and the water feature. He sprayed everything with a
coat of oil based sealer. The water feature may need additional work. He will set up the stage next week for public use. Whomever is working in the Visitor Center will water flowers during the week and Director Polatas will ask Junction 39 to water on Fridays. The Executive Director will do more research into replacing the small cement pad with pavers.

Chart of Accounts: Rachel’s Accounting has finished tidying up our chart of accounts and is
finishing up work on the financial review of 2024.

The Audit committee will schedule a 6 month financial review of 2025.

Storage Shed: Big Sky Mini Barns had previously provided the Board with an estimate for a storage
shed to be placed next to the Visitor Center. The Executive Director followed up and received an
updated estimate of $5,000 for an 8×8 shed. The shed will serve as storage for the stage in the
winter, snow shovels, along with park maintenance supplies. The Executive Director will look
into the need for a building permit, inquire about shelving options, and ask about the possibility
of adding a ramp at the door.

Fallon County Community Foundation: No update.

Other Old Business: The Executive Director wrote up a draft newspaper article on the happenings of
SMART for the first quarter of the year. It was available at the meeting for board members to
review. Another article would be written for the 2nd Quarter happenings.
Director Johnson offered to proof the article before submission.

The Executive Director and Director Zachmann brought the idea of purchasing a memorial bench for
Sharon Gookin to be placed in L. Price Park. Director Zachmann will source a memorial bench.

New Business:

Visitor Center/Administrative Assistant Position: With the possibility of hiring a
full-time Executive Director, the listing of this position was tabled.
History Walk Benches/Signs: Vaughn Zenko informed the Executive Director that the Fallon County
Fairgrounds would like their red and white benches returned before this year’s fair. The history
walk was a collaboration between O’Fallon Museum and SMART. Benches were used in lieu of attaching signs to buildings. Director Teter stated that Melissa Rost was initially interested in sponsoring a bench. There are potentially three benches needed. SMART will purchase the benches using what is left of the grant funds. Director Teter will contact Vaughn about picking up the benches and shewill reach out to Melissa Rost. The Executive Director will coordinate moving the signs from the benches.President Varner will ask the Historical Society if they would like to sponsor a bench.

Baker Beautification Committee: Pam Owens along with a group of Fallon County women will be
continuing work under the Baker Beautification Committee. Pam will get the mailing address changed
on their bank account. The committee will take over the Flag Service and mailings of the letters.

Food Forest Lot: Robbie with the City of Baker contacted SMART to discuss the maintenance of the
Food Forest lot. He mowed the lot a couple weeks ago. SMART will need to consider if they would
like to keep this lot and start maintaining it or give it back to the city. President Varner will
contact Kevin Braun to discuss and the Executive Director will contact the clerk and recorder to
locate a copy of the MOU for the transfer of the lot.

The final public meeting for the Baker Theater PAR will be July 21st at the museum, everyone was
encouraged to attend.

Having no further new business, President Varner adjourned the meeting. Meeting adjourned at
8:40pm.

The next SMART meeting is scheduled for July 28,2025 at 7:00pm at the SMART Building.

Respectfully
submitted:

JodiVarner, President
Krista Nemitz, Executive Director