“It doesn’t seem like 30 years.” That’s how Bob Storm 59, summed up his 30-year, five-term tenure on the Belle Plaine Park Board. But after serving on the board since 1980, he decided not to seek another six-year term. Nick Palmer was elected to fill his spot and joins Les Jacobi and Andy Ehlen on the current board.
Residents will have a chance to greet Storm and honor his service, as well as recognizing the more than 50 years served by Nadine Thomasson as the Red Cross swim instructor and long time aquatics director at an open house on Sunday, from 1-3 p.m. at the Belle Plaine Community Center.
Much of the possible ease in serving on the board over the years came from quality full-time directors, he said. Over the early years, there was a succession of directors who lasted only a short time before they sought employment in larger cities. Then the board hired Bill Daily, a lifetime Belle Plaine resident, who stayed in the director’s position for over 20 years before being spirited away to become the city administrator. He was replaced by another longtime resident, Jed Eichhorn, then by yet another director who grew up here, Joel Formanek, the current director.
Storm, who served as the park board president all 30 years of his tenure, said the board enacted policies, gave the director direction and annually wrestled with the budget. Otherwise, the board members allowed the directors to do their job. He estimated that over his term on the board he may have received only three calls to handle problems in the department.
“We were always fortunate to have city councils and mayors who were very pro parks and recreation,” he said. Storm was a downtown businessman for many years, then a car salesman before going full time with his real estate business. Although some people might shy away from seeking local elected office because of a potential backlash from residents that could affect their business, Storm said there was a lot of community support over the years and many people took part in the various programs, as parents and volunteers.
In the first few years of his term on the board, the city built the bath house at the swimming pool. He is proud of the fact that it was constructed in such a way that it can be renovated to serve the new aquatics center, slated to open later this year.
Several years later, another big addition to the park system was the development of Box Park, which went from a corn field to a park featuring paved walkways and several flower beds. The park was developed through the guidance of then-director Bill Daily, with a lot of help from local groups and individuals to design and maintain the flower beds.
The city has a lot of park land for a town with a population of just under 3,000. Storm said the city has been fortunate to have several caretakers over the years, including Dick Roggentien, Vernon Blomme and currently Charles Johnson who all treated the parks with the same care they might show with their own property.
One of the final big projects carried out on Storm’s watch was the planning and construction of the new aquatics center. He said this new feature should be a real plus for the city, bringing a lot more people to town.
The city and the school district have long enjoyed good cooperation on sharing facilities, Storm said. With the pending closure of Central Elementary School, the future of Lee Gym is still in doubt. Storm said that spirit of cooperation will be as important as ever.
Storm said he intends to continue working with his real estate business and hopes the local economy will turn around this year. His wife, Judy, operates a beauty shop in the same building.