The Meridian Service Metropolitan District held its monthly board meeting May 7. Program fees at the recreation center and a fireworks plan for Falcon Freedom Days were among the items discussed.The board congratulated Tom Kerby, district chief engineer for the district, who was elected to the Falcon Fire Protection District board in May.Board members asked for a report on community reaction to last month’s change in guest pass policies. ìThere have not been any complaints about the increased fees for pool guest passes yet,î said Melissa Weaver, representative for the Meridian Ranch YMCA. Movie nights will be held at the recreation center June 14 and July 12. The ìAvengersî and ìIron Man 3î will be shown.Child Watch has been at capacity three days a week. The center purchased additional play equipment and hired additional staff to help accommodate the growth. ìWe brought on a third person so we can have kids play outside or in the community room with the third person when the Child Watch room itself is at capacity,î Weaver said.Board members asked about the sports program attendance numbers, which have declined over previous years. ìWe’re working really hard to rebuild our sports program,î Weaver said. ìMany of the ages for soccer and flag football overlap with the starting age limits for Pride Soccer and the school teams, so the kids who were in the program are moving on to competitive leagues.îThe board discussed the informal reciprocal agreement between Woodmen Hills and Meridian Ranch for recreational center use among the two communities’ residents. ìWhen the YMCA ran the Woodmen Hills center, we offered their residents the ability to use our center and vice-versa,î Weaver said. ìWhen the Y left their center, we verbally agreed with them to keep that rate program.î The board agreed to put off any decision about the rate agreement until next year.Tim Hunker, district manager, presented two alternatives from the fireworks contractor for Falcon Freedom Days, which takes place July 3 at Antler Creek Golf Course. The options offered were one 20-minute show or one 30-minute show. Both would be set to music that would be simulcast on Y96.9 KCCY radio. ìThe second option may be more expensive; but, when you divide it out, it’s more bang for your buck,î said Larry Rodgers, board member. The fireworks contractor and most board members agreed that 20 minutes was an appropriate length for the event. ìOur first couple years were only 10 minutes,î Hunker said. This will be the first fireworks display during Falcon Freedom Days since 2006, Hunker said.Meridian Ranch developer GTL has reached a plateau, despite the recent rebound in the building industry. ìWe are exactly at the same point as we were for tap fees last year,î said Doug Woods, developer representative. ìIf you look nationwide, we are exactly flat line on growth, and it won’t take much of a hiccup for us to go below flat. The economy is not as good as they say it is on paper.îThe next district meeting is June 4 at 10 a.m. at the Meridian Ranch Recreation Center community room.
