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Elk River Public Library Board Page 5 <br />January 26th, 2021 <br />for maintenance responsibility and the concern for continuing to <br />invest in garden areas when the plants will not survive. High <br />maintenance plants should not be planted in areas where the only <br />watering is from rainwater and snow and salt damage are consistent <br />in the winter. <br />Chair Dreissig asked if the master gardeners are willing to maintain <br />the gardens if the new plants are put in. Ms. Olson explained that <br />she discussed this with the other master gardeners at their recent <br />meeting and it is not part of their mission to be responsible for <br />garden maintenance. The master gardeners focus on education. <br />Maintaining gardens is out of their scope of practice. <br />Commissioner Boelter questioned if the board should put more <br />money into plants if they will not be maintained. Mr. Sevcik <br />confirmed that that his staff in parks maintenance can move the <br />boulders in the parking lot raingarden. The board is concerned that <br />whatever is replanted in that location will just die. Mr. Sevcik <br />suggested planting a butterfly seed mix that would maintain itself <br />once established. Commissioner Keifenheim suggested adding <br />mulch as well once the boulders are removed. Mr. Sevcik also <br />suggested decorative grasses for planting with 1 year of parks <br />maintenance watering support for establishment. Commissioner <br />Keifenheim and Chair Dreissig said they would support native <br />grasses and plants. <br />The board discussed that they would not support the plan presented <br />at the October meeting due to concerns about the survival and <br />maintenance of the plants. <br />Mr. Sevcik can provide a plan and give it to the board at the meeting <br />in April. Mr. Sevcik and Ms. Olson will get together to put a plan in <br />place. The funds are available in the landscaping budget. The board <br />will then review the plan in April and vote. <br />Ms. Olson believes that the master gardeners would support the <br />natural grasses idea and she is willing to meet with Mr. Sevcik before <br />the next meeting. Ms. Schake said she defers the landscaping <br />decisions to Mr. Sevcik and will support him in what he decides. Ms. <br />Olson left the meeting and Ms. Schake thanked her and Ms. Lewis <br />for their contributions. <br />Moved by Commissioner Keifenheim and seconded by Commissioner Boelter to <br />decline the proposed plan of plantings presented at the October meeting due to <br />concerns about plant replacement costs and maintenance. Motion carried 5-0. <br />5.3 City Council Report <br />I�0*kBEI i� <br />NATUREI <br />