|
Antrim County |
|||
|
July 28, 2005 |
|||
|
Minutes |
|||
|
Members Present: |
|
Stan Moore, Jerry Basch, Russ Blasdell, Al Pecar, Linda Gallagher and Mike Crawford |
|
|
Members Absent: |
|
Jerry Dobrzelewski, Mark Stone and Mike Meriwether |
|
|
Staff Present: |
|
Eileen Wallick |
|
|
Others: |
|
None |
|
|
I. Call to Order |
|||
|
|
Stan Moore called the meeting to order at 9:05 a.m. |
||
|
II. Approval of March 24, 2005 minutes |
|||
|
|
Motion by Jerry Basch, supported by Linda Gallagher, to approve the minutes from the May 26, 2005 meeting. Motion carried - unanimous. |
||
|
III. Parks and Recreation Database Update |
|||
|
|
Stan Moore asked for initial findings and questions, on the review of the parks and recreation database, by commission members. Mike Crawford turned in Helena and Custer Townships, with minor corrections. Mike indicated that we may be missing an access point in Grass River Natural Area, off Bliss Rd. Mark Randolph will be asked to comment on this. Jerry Basch indicated that we may want to look at the names of the sites in the database. Several of the sites have common names by which they have been known for years, but no signs have been placed using these names. Improvements may lead to easier accessibility, especially for non-resident guests. |
||
|
IV. Boat Launch on Lake Michigan |
|||
|
|
Stan Moore gave a PowerPoint presentation on a Lake Michigan potential boat launch review. At the May 26th meeting, a subcommittee of Stan Moore, Linda Gallagher, Jerry Basch and Mike Meriwether, was charged with this task. Four sites were visited: Barnes Park, Lore Road Extension, Banks Township Park, and Traverse Bay Nature Preserve. Lore Road was determined to be insufficient for a boat launch, due to size and accessibility.
Pros and Cons were listed for each of the remaining sites: Barnes Park: Pros County control of site Room for parking, turn around Could manage charging for boat launch Cons Steep grade to water Need for isolation from young campers Cost of excavation Need to add break wall and dredge |
||
|
|
Banks Township Park: Pros Slightly steeper drop off than Barnes Partial break wall already established Some Parking Cons Close neighbors Limited turn around ability Would change park greatly
Traverse Bay Nature Preserve: Pros Steepest drop off Wide road to access Allow boat launch now Room for additional turn around and parking Cons Not under county ownership, Torch Lake Twp. Preserve?
Motion by Jerry Basch, supported by Al Pecar that based on the data provided by the Lake Michigan Boat Launch review group, that we charge the review group to gather additional information as to the possible boat launch development of Barnes Park and Traverse Bay Road sites. Motion carried – unanimous. |
||
|
V. Other Matters |
|||
|
|
Linda Gallagher shared concerns about the signs for Barnes Park. The park signs do not give clear indication that swimming and camping sites are available to the public.
Linda also shared concerns about damage being done to bridges and trails in Mohrmann Park. ATVs have destroyed two of the foot bridges and have created serious erosion problems on the trails and in the streams. Horse traffic is leaving manure on the trails as well. Mike Crawford indicated that he would bring this issue to the Parks Committee for consideration of signs on the trails.
Linda and Eileen continue to work on the Antrim County Festival, featuring Petoskey stones and other Antrim County specific items. The plan is to have this on Memorial Day. Eileen and Linda will make recommendations to the Parks Committee for approval. Stan asked them to also keep the commission updated.
Al Pecar expressed concern about the recent Wetzel Lake meeting. Poor publicity of the meeting led to only three individuals attending. Security and vandalism continue to be a problem at the site as well. |
||
|
VI. Communications |
|||
|
|
None. |
||
|
Meeting adjourned at 10:33 a.m. |
|||
|
The next meeting will be Thursday, August 25, 2005 at 9:00 a.m. |
|||