Parks Committee

Robert McLeod

Mike Crawford, Chairman

Joseph Allen
 

Minutes

February 5, 2004

9:00 a.m.

 

Members present:

 

Mike Crawford, Bob McLeod and Joe Allen

Members absent:

 

None

Others present:

 

Jack White, Corey Arsnoe, Russ Blasdell, Eileen Wallick, Mark Randolph, and Howard Yamaguchi

 

 

 

1.         Meeting called to order at 9:00 a.m. by Mike Crawford

2.         Grass River Natural Area (GRNA) Update

 

Mark Randolph, executive director of GRNA, distributed a handout and explained its contents.  He reported GRNA’s success in obtaining a $7,500 tribal grant for modification to the entrance road.  (They requested $27,500.)  He also reported on the conflict between two hunters on GRNA land and the Speet property, and explained how he proposed to use new signage to forestall such conflicts in the future.  He invited the Parks Committee to a briefing on February 9 by the architect retained by GRNA to design the new visitor center.

 

Mark also noted that the directors of GRNA addressed a letter to the County Prosecutor asking for resolution of two outstanding issues:  the reverter clause and the Banfield property.  Some discussion ensued on the status of the dispute with the Banfields on the railroad right-of-way, and the need to resolve the issue within the two-year extension granted by MDOT to ready the right-of-way for the proposed trail project.  Jack White will speak with Charlie Koop on this issue.

3.         Barnes Park Update

 

Eileen Wallick briefly explained some off-season activities at the park, including clean-up operations after the recent heavy winds.  She also noted that her crew was ready to clean up Antrim Creek Natural Area trails before the season opens this year, and that they were also ready to build the benches requested for Wetzel Lake (or swap out some existing Barnes Park benches).  Eileen brought up the question of the non-specification drywall in the Barnes Park shower.  Eileen will produce of log of items not constructed properly by Robert T. Cole.  Mike will ask Pete Garwood to call Robert T. Cole on the matter, and, if necessary, ask the Prosecuting Attorney to intervene.  Some discussion ensued on the possibility of the Park crew cutting and bundling their own firewood in the spring for a summer season sale.

 

Howard informed the Committee that the County still had not entered into a contractual agreement with DNR for the grant that the County was awarded.  He distributed a handout prepared by the Antrim Conservation District (ACD) outlining a proposed floor plan and a proposed course of action by ACD and the County for constructing the facilities paid by the grant. Trail alignment will be determined with the ACD.  Eileen distributed alternative floor plans for Mike Crawford’s consideration.

4.         Parks & Recreation Commission Update

 

Howard reported that the last meeting of the Parks & Recreation Commission (Parks & Rec) was an informal one due to the lack of a quorum.

 

Howard informed the Parks Committee that the Parks & Rec subcommittee for the county comprehensive recreation plan has started its work.  Stan Moore leads the effort.  He also requested that additional funds be made available to Parks & Rec to enable the Commission to meet sufficiently frequently to execute the two major projects, namely the parks plan update and the parks forum.  Mike Crawford supported Howard’s assertion about the need for additional funds.

5.         Parks & Recreation Forum

 

Jerry Basch reported on the progress of the Parks & Recreation Forum planning.  He distributed the draft agenda, the draft invitation letter, and the return postcards for RSVPs.  He informed the Committee that the County Lands Agriculture and Forestry Committee is recommending to the Finance Committee to use up to $500 of the Forestry Fund to help defray the cost of the Forum.  Jerry requested an additional $200 to supplement the $500.

 

Discussion ensued on the purpose, the format, and the venue of the Forum.  Jack White suggested that township halls may be a more appropriate choice of venues.  Mike Crawford noted that if the event becomes an annual or semi-annual event, the venue could indeed be rotated around the county and perhaps combined with a tour of the local park infrastructure for the attendees.  Bob McLeod noted that we will most probably have to post the invitation as a public notice.  Howard reported that in all probability, there will be a newspaper article as well.  Discussion also revolved around the need to shrink the panel program somewhat.

 

Motion by Bob McLeod, seconded by Joe Allen, to recommend to the Finance Committee to allocate up to $800 for the Parks & Recreation Forum, of which $500 will be from the Forestry Fund, with and an additional $300 allocated by the Finance Committee from additional source(s).

6.         Member Comment

 

There was no comment from the Committee members.

 

Corey Arsnoe of the ACD suggested that a letter of thanks might be in order to the officers in charge of the prison crew that has worked with Corey in constructing a number of conservation projects in Antrim County over the past several years.  He noted that the supervising officers may not be completely aware of the good work performed by these crews.

 

The committee instructed Howard to work with Corey in composing the letter.  Howard suggested that the letter be illustrated using project photographs supplied by Corey.

Meeting adjourned at 10:37 a.m.