Antrim Creek Natural Area
Robert McLeod, Chairman
Gale Murphy			Mary Kay McDuffie		Gary Strange	Carl Veenstra
March 9, 2004
Minutes
Banks Township Hall
ACNA Commission Members Present:				Robert McLeod, Carl Veenstra and Mary Kay McDuffie
Members Absent:				Gary Strange, Gale Murphy
Staff Present:				Pete Garwood
Others Present:				Chuck Cleland, Marion Williams, Ed McDuffie and Betty Hoffmann
1.         Call to Order
		The Meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Chairman Robert McLeod.
2.         Approval of Minutes
		Motion by Mary Kay McDuffie, supported by Carl Veenstra, to approve the minutes of the December 1, 2003, meeting.  Motion carried – unanimous.
3.         Curatorial Agreement
		Dr. Chuck Clelland, Archeologist, distributed a Curatorial Agreement between Antrim County and the MSU Museum for the artifacts found on the ACNA property during the Archeological dig. The agreement would take the form of a cover letter and an "Incoming Loan Agreement". The Agreement was passed on to Mr. Peter Garwood, Coordinator/Planner.  The agreement currently has the signature of William A. Lovis, PhD, Associate Director for Natural and Social Science Research and Curator of Anthropology. The agreement now needs to be signed by the Chairman of the Board of Commissioners.
		Motion by Mary Kay McDuffie, supported by Carl Veenstra, to recommend the Board of Commissioners approve and the Chairman sign the agreement with the MSU Museum for care, storage and access of the artifacts found at the ACNA (agreement attached). Motion carried – unanimous.
4.         Summer Dig at ACNA
		Dr. Clelland distributed a letter from Jodie O'Gorman, PhD, Assistant Professor of Anthropology & Assistant Curator of Great Lakes Archeology.  Dr. O’Gorman is requesting permission for up to 15 students to conduct an archeological excavation and survey at the ACNA this summer.  The project would be conducted under close supervision.
		Motion by Mary Kay McDuffie, supported by Carl Veenstra, to recommend the Board of Commissioners approve the proposed archeological excavation and survey at the ACNA (letter attached), and authorize the Chairman of the ACNA Commission to respond affirmatively to the request. Motion carried – unanimous.
	Dr. Clelland indicated the students will need a place to stay and a place to set up a laboratory for the summer while they are participating in the excavation. Mr. Veenstra will check with the owners of a structure close to the natural area to see if it could be used for a laboratory.  Mr. Garwood was directed to check with Carl Goeman, Emergency Management Coordinator on the availability of tents that might be used to house the students during the project.
5.         Repair of the Trail Bridge and Boardwalk
	Mr. Garwood informed the Committee that Travor Wood, Site Planning and Design, Inc., would not be at the meeting tonight. Mr. Wood had indicated to Mr. Garwood that he would put together a proposal for the next meeting for maintaining and improving the foot bridge abutment. Mr. Wood also indicated he received a letter from Robert T. Cole indicating a commitment for tree replacement on the South entrance this spring.
6.         Wildlife Habitat Update
	Mr. Veenstra indicated he has not had recent contact with the teacher from Ellsworth School. Most recent contact was last fall.
7.         Other Grant Opportunities
	Janet Person, Executive Director of the Antrim Conservation District, was not present. Mr. Garwood indicated Ms. Person had indicated that she was going to apply for additional funds from the Norcross Fund.
	The Committee requested Mr. Garwood try to apply for Little Traverse Band of Odowa Indians as well as submitting an additional grant application to the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians.
8.         Meetings
	Next Meeting to be May 10, 7:00 p.m. at the Banks Township Hall.
	Chairman McLeod proposed we might reduce the amount of meetings.  The topic will be discussed at future meetings as we keep track of the amount of business that requires action.
	Chairman McLeod indicated he would check with Charles Koop, Prosecuting Attorney, to see if anything has been done regarding the unleashed dog that attacked another dog at the ACNA.
9.         Communications
	None.
Meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m.