Antrim County
Parks and Recreation Commission

May 27, 2004

Minutes

Members Present:

 

Al Luurtsema, Russ Blasdell, Jerome Dobrzelewski, Al Pecar, Mike Crawford, Stan Moore and Jerry Basch

Members Absent:

 

Mike Meriwether, Mark Stone

Staff Present:

 

Howard Yamaguchi, Eileen Wallick

Others Present:

 

Kent Reynolds

I.          Call to Order

 

Al Luurtsema called the meeting of the Parks & Recreation Commission (Parks & Rec) to order at 9:00 a.m.

II.         Approval of the Minutes of the April 22, 2004 Meeting

 

Motion by Jerome Dobrzelewski, seconded by Al Pecar, to approve the minutes of the April 22, 2004, meeting.  Motion passed - unanimous.

III.        Comprehensive Rec Plan Update

 

Stan Moore reported that Howard has completed a draft of Section B, and requested Parks & Rec input.  Howard noted that the draft Section B as distributed may not be fully complete.  He also noted that the plan subcommittee had walked through the existing Section C, and had addressed questions on what needed to be updated.

 

For the plan, the Parks & Rec Commission will review all facilities and get the facilities database back up to speed.  This is required for the new website to function correctly.  The first step in the process is to update and complete the facilities inventory.  Howard printed some sample inventories.  Inventory sheets will be sent to the townships and villages concerned (as well as to the following Parks & Rec members).

 

Parks & Rec Commission Member Assignments for Inventory Update

Stan Moore

Kearny
Echo
Central Lake (Vlg)

Mike Meriwether

Helena
Custer
Chestonia

Al Luurtsema

Forest Home

Allen Pecan

Mancelona (twp/vlg)

Howard Yamaguchi

Elk Rapids (twp/vlg)
Torch Lake
Milton

Jerry Dobrzelewski

Warner
Star
Jordan

Jerry Basch

Central Lake (twp)

Janet Person

Bellaire
Banks/Ellsworth

 

 

 

Stan further noted that we will rework the wording on the parks plan to include input from the past and future meetings of the parks forum, where input was, and will continue to be, sought from participants.

 

He also noted that the action program (Section E) lays out our plan of action for the next five years.  Parks & Rec members proposed meeting with various recreation-oriented groups every month for several months to obtain input on an action plan.

IV.        Trails Update

 

Howard briefed Parks & Rec on the progress of the Elk Rapids-based trail group.  The Elk Rapids Rotary Club is financing a consulting study for a trail alignment between Elk Rapids and the Grand Traverse County trails.  He also noted that the same trail group would like to meet with the various interested parties in the county to formulate a joint county-wide trails plan for use in local parks plans.

V.         Parks & Rec Database and County Website Mapping

 

Stan Moore briefed Parks & Rec on the meeting held at Land Information Access Association (LIAA) to load the database and arrange for parks & rec search tools and map overlays for the new website.  Howard noted that several more people from Parks & Rec will need to undergo website design training.

VI.        2005 Parks & Recreation Commission Budget

 

Finally, Howard introduced a possible budget for 2005.  He requested all to study it and propose changes.  The budget will be presented to the Parks Committee on July 1.  Some discussion ensued, and some wording changes were proposed for line items.  Howard will obtain some information from the Road Commission on map costs.

 

Motion by Jerome Dobrzelewski, seconded by Mike Crawford to present the 2005 Parks & Rec budget as discussed to the Parks Committee on July 1 2004.  Motion passed - unanimous.

VII.       Elk Rapids Day Park and Barnes Park Updates

 

Eileen Wallick briefed Parks & Rec on the progress of the proposed Elk Rapids park entrance sign and the proposed project for the Eagle Scout (will cut new trails and dress others).  Tim Cooper and Eileen walked the park for possible project elements.  Jerry Basch described the talk by Warren Studley at the meeting.

 

Eileen also briefed Parks & Rec on Barnes Park.  Howard noted that a request for engineering work and for exemption from the bidding process had been transmitted to the state, and that we are awaiting a response.  Eileen informed Parks & Rec about the Great Lakes Energy grant for paving the entrance area to the park.  Mike Crawford noted that this type of grant would have to be written in-house.  Howard suggested that the Parks & Rec Commission write the grant.

 

Motion by Russ Blasdell, seconded by Mike Crawford, to recommend to the Parks Committee that the Parks & Recreation Commission write the Great Lakes Energy People Fund grant request (in-house) for resurfacing the Barnes Park entrance area.  Approximate request to be around $18,000, depending on quotation.  Motion passed - unanimous.

VIII.      Public Access Points

 

Jerry Basch distributed a handout on public access issues for the Parks & Rec Commission to pursue in the coming years, with some to be included in the action plan.  A “best practices” book on public access sites for use by government officials was proposed.  Parks and Rec was of the consensus that this is a high priority item.

 

Mike Crawford commended Jerry Basch, and noted that a lack of a verdict by Judge Thomas Powers was holding up the ability of local governments to manage road endings and public access sites properly.

 

Motion by Jerry Basch, seconded by Mike Crawford, for the Parks & Rec Commission to write a letter to Judge Thomas Powers encouraging him to resolve the road ending issue so that the County Parks & Rec can formulate policies for maintenance and management of such sites.  Motion passed - unanimous.

IX.        Other Matters

 

Al Pecar discussed the format of the inventory of public access sites and their present legal status.  Most of the legal documents pertaining to these sites are available, and should be compiled in a central location and made available to the public.

 

Mike Crawford briefed the Parks & Rec Commission on the desire by Alden Bank to donate about 300 feet of Torch Lake frontage to the public.  The Township alone may not be able to accommodate their request, and may be contacting the County soon.

 

Al Luurtsema explained the proposed 0.35 mil county millage for Parks & Recreation.  He distributed a handout illustrating the allocations of such a millage.  Extensive discussion ensued on the parks millage and the proposed Conservation District millage.  The parks millage would be on the November ballot if approved by the Board of Commissioners.  Discussion also included coordinating millage strategies with the other agencies operating parks in Antrim County.

 

Meeting adjourned at 11:20 a.m.

 

Next Meeting
Thursday, June 24, 2004, at 9:00 a.m.