Antrim County
Parks and Recreation Commission

January 27, 2004

Minutes

Members Present:

Al Luurtsema, Russ Blasdell, Mike Meriwether, and Stan Moore

Members Absent:

Mark Stone, Mike Crawford, Jerry Basch, Jerome Dobrzelewski, and Al Pecar

Staff Present:

Howard Yamaguchi, Eileen Wallick

Others Present:

None

I.          Call to Order

Al Luurtsema called an unofficial meeting of the Parks & Recreation Commission (Parks & Rec) to order at 9:12 a.m.  There is no quorum today, so no decisions requiring a vote will be taken.  It will be a purely informational meeting.

II.         Membership and Meeting Dates in 2004

Howard noted that Mike Crawford had promised to obtain more funds for additional meetings of Parks & Rec in 2004.  As of today, no additional funds have been allocated.  Al Luurtsema agreed that we should hold meetings, but possibly space the meetings out while having the work subcommittees meet regularly.

Howard also noted that membership of Parks & Rec will be held to 9.

III.        Barnes Park Grant

Mike Meriwether noted that the MNTF grant had come through, and that Janet Person and Mike Crawford had decided on a revised floor plan for the office.  Howard distributed the currently proposed office floor plan, as well as the information sheet prepared by the Conservation District.  Mike Meriwether discussed the possibility of coordinating the trail design with his tree thinning operations at Barnes Parks scheduled for 2004.  Some of the contracting arrangements were discussed.

IV.        Wetzel Lake Planning Update

Janet Person was not present today, so there was no update.

V.         Comprehensive Recreation Plan Update

Stan Moore reported that the subcommittee met last week, and discussed the current structure of the report.  Howard was assigned to write Sections A and B (Community Description and Community Administrative Structure).  Howard reported that revision of Section A is almost complete.

VI.        Parks Forum Update

Jerry Basch was not present, so Howard presented the progress report.  He distributed information on rental for the lodge at Camp Hayo-Went-Ha, the current draft of the agenda, information on some speakers already lined up for panels, and the current draft of the invitation letter.  Mike Meriwether agreed to contact DNR forestry staff to attend the meeting.

In the discussion on the text of the invitation letter, Mike suggested including forestry in the text.  He also suggested that private campsite owners be included in the invitation list.  Stan noted that the next meeting of the forum subcommittee is tomorrow.

VII.       New Shooting Range in County

Russ Blasdell gave a brief update of the ongoing search for a suitable shooting range in the County.  The forest land currently being used by the Sheriff’s department is under consideration at this time.

VIII.      Member Comment

Mike Meriwether provided details of a meeting to be hosted by the Conservation District on Wednesday, February 11, at 6 p.m.  The subject will be fisheries on Lake Bellaire.  Tom Rozich of the DNR will be on hand to speak and answer questions.

IX.        Adjournment        Meeting adjourned at 10:27 a.m.

Next Meeting
Thursday, February 26, 2004, at 9:00 a.m.