Antrim Creek Natural Area

Robert McLeod, Chairman

Gale Murphy

Mary Kay McDuffie

Gary Strange

Carl Veenstra

 

June 30, 2003

Minutes

Banks Township Hall

 

Members Present:

  

Robert McLeod, Gale Murphy, Mary Kay McDuffie and Carl Veenstra

Members Absent:

  

Gary Strange

Staff Present:

  

Howard Yamaguchi, Associate Planner

Others Present:

  
Jack and Barbara White, Traver Wood, Marion Williams

1.         Call to Order

 

The Meeting was called to order at 7:04 p.m. by Chairman Robert McLeod.

2.         Approval of Minutes

 

Motion by Mary Kay McDuffie, seconded by Gale Murphy, to approve the minutes of the May 5, 2003, meeting.  Motion carried – unanimous.

3.         ACNA Website

 

Mary Kay reported that the website is not finished yet, but the class is still working on it and will let us know when they are done.

4.         ACNA Maintenance and Repair

 

Guardrail:  One of the guardrails was recently hit by a trailer and is skewed.  Should it be removed? 

Signs:  “Parking Only in Designated Areas” sign has not yet been purchased.  We have prices but are still waiting to see if we are approved by the Tribal Grant.  If we do not get the dollars from the Tribal Grant, we will check with the Antrim Conservation District regarding the expiration date of the $2,700 Norcross Foundation Grant, and if possible, use those funds.

Boulders:  Carl Veenstra reported that he moves the boulders back, vehicles move them aside.  Bob McLeod noted that the boulders have not been moved recently.  Howard briefed the Commission on the need to obtain a DEQ permit.  Bob McLeod suggested not to take any action until the need arises.

Trails:  There is afton stone erosion at abutment end of the handicapped trail foot bridge.  Traver will check design drawings to see if an abutment was designed or not.

Parking:  Carl Veenstra stated that something needs to be done at the northern parking area, (remove or shorten) but thinks that if the barriers are removed, more people will park on the trail to the beach.  Moving the parking area will narrow the handicapped trail behind the barrier, and increase vehicle traffic crossing the handicapped trail.  Carl suggested moving the southern barrier more to the south.  He also stated that the northern barrier is also in the way of vehicles backing down the roadway.  Carl believes we need to decide whether or not we want boat trailers to back down to the beach.  Bob McLeod stated that we have an obligation to give the public access to the lake.

 

 

Carl Veenstra made a motion, seconded by Mary Kay McDuffie to move the two endmost southern barriers to form a straight line with the third barrier from the end.  Motion carried – unanimous.

 

5.         Budget

 

Motion by Gale Murphy, seconded by Carl Veenstra to recommend the proposed budget to the Parks Committee for approval by the Finance Committee.  Motion carried – unanimous.

 

Discussion took place regarding the endowment fund.  Bob McLeod, in a telephone conversation with Jeanne Snow from the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation, (GTRCF), stated the ACNA has $13,741 in a temporary fund and $3,057 in the endowment fund. Carl recommended letting the money sit in this account.  Mary Kay McDuffie wondered if there’s a possibility of a better interest rate.  Carl Veenstra will check on this.

 

Antrim County initially funded $37,000 to get the ACNA project started with the understanding the ACNA would repay this amount over a seven year period.  At this time, the ACNA has three more payments to make to the County.

 

6.         Endangered Species Survey

 

Howard will ask the AuSable Institute to do the work next summer.  He will also check on terms.

7.          Treated Lumber

 

Traver is still looking at alternative materials and stated that there is a 20-25% premium on new materials. 

8.         Wildlife Habitat Project

 

Carl has still not heard from the 4-H office.  He has a large stack of materials (brush) for this project and would like to bring in a tractor and put these materials in place for rabbits, etc.  The plan is for 4-H representative to meet with Antrim Conservation District and Carl to design pasture mix, get materials, etc.  Seeds should be planted by August, and habitat material placed by late fall or early winter.

 

9.         Parks and Recreation Commission

 

Mary Kay McDuffie will represent the ACNA at the Parks and Recreation Commission goal-setting meeting on July 24 at 9:00 a.m.

10.        Member Communication

 

Carl stated that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife was checking Antrim Creek for lampreys.  The U.S. Fish and Wildlife representative commented about what good shape the creek was in and the road culvert being very successful judging from the abundance of game fish upstream of the creek.

 

11.       Next meeting scheduled for Monday July 28 at 7:00 p.m. at Banks Township Hall.

Meeting adjourned at 8:05 p.m.