The regular meeting of the Board of Park Trustees of the County of Calhoun was held Wednesday, January 4, 2006 in their office located at 13300 Fifteen Mile Road, Marshall, Michigan.
Present: Commissioner Charles E. Monaweck, Chairperson
Commissioner Chester E. Travis, Vice-Chairperson
Commissioner David D. Veramay, Member
Dennis A. Randolph, Managing Director
Joanna I. Johnson, Assistant Managing Director
Pixie Coats, Human Resource Manager
Kevin Henning, Finance Director
Also Present: Clarence Millard, Newton Township Resident
Annette Chapman, Calhoun County Parks & Recreation Director
Clerk Johnson called meeting to order at 10:25 a.m. and called for the selection of 2006 officers.
Moved by Commissioner Travis and supported by Commissioner Veramay that Commissioner Charles Monaweck presides as Chairperson for 2006. Voice vote: Motion carried.
Moved by Commissioner Veramay and supported by Commissioner Monaweck that Commissioner Chester Travis serves as Vice-Chairperson for 2006. Voice vote: Motion carried.
Clerk Johnson handed the meeting over to Chairperson Monaweck.
Chairperson Monaweck stated that there being no additions or corrections to the regular meeting minutes of December 7, 2005 they stand approved as printed and distributed.
PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR'S REPORT
Mrs. Chapman reported:
• The Holiday Lighting at the Bridge Park was successful again this year.
• Mrs. Chapman is still working on the Trailway Plan and hopes to have it completed by the end of the month or the first of February.
• Mrs. Chapman stated that staff is working extensively on the Ott Preserve. There are at least a dozen beavers that are causing problems in the middle of the Ott Preserve. The beavers have built four dams of substantial size. A wildlife biologist/trapper came out and gave some advise on what to do. Being that it is a nature preserve we need to be careful on how we handle animals. It was suggested to put pipes in to transfer the water and then once that happens the beavers go somewhere else. The footings of the pedestrian bridge are leaning quite extensively and so we do need to do something with the water level.
• Mrs. Chapman stated that we have had some vandalism on the west side of the boundary fence in the Ott Preserve where the fence has been cut in two places. Mrs. Chapman is going to contact the company that originally installed the fence to do the repair work.
• Mrs. Johnson had asked Mrs. Chapman to write a letter to the Board regarding the work she had done for a MDEQ permit for a boat launch extension at the public park at Graham Lake in Leroy Township. Mrs. Chapman stated that she hoped it answered any questions they may have about the work she had done. Mrs. Chapman noted that both Mr. Randolph and Mrs. Johnson have always worked to support the Townships and try to help if possible.
• Mrs. Chapman also said that as a resident of Leroy Township she had made a complaint about the restroom in the Park. The maintenance was so bad that she wouldn't even let her children use them. The Township Board in turn asked her if she would go out and evaluate the park and let them know what it would cost for our crews to maintain it. She has been working on the proposal and will have it completed before the Leroy Township Board meets for their budget meeting. Mrs. Chapman asked the Board to encourage Supervisor Nieterer to talk to her if he has any questions, concerns or complaints. Mrs. Johnson noted that she and Kevin would ask to review the proposal before proceeding further.
• Work is continuing on the Charlotte Highway Bridge. Mrs. Chapman stated that the Charlotte Highway Bridge is the last bridge from the grants received in 2000. She stated that she would be writing another grant to MDOT to fabricate a Bowstring Bridge. The whole reason for the Bridge Park is to have different examples of bridges and their truss designs. The Bowstring Bridge is a very unique bridge.
MANAGING DIRECTOR'S REPORT
Mr. Randolph mentioned that the National Association of County Engineers is having their national meeting in Grand Rapids this year and they have invited Mr. Messler and himself to give a talk about the Bridge Park. He invited anyone interested to come and listen.
Mr. Randolph also stated that he had the contract from the VA for the Golf Course. It is a three-year contract, but there is an out in it in case we want to terminate the contract. He said that the Course had a good year this past year and hopes to have another good year next year.
COMMISSIONER'S COMMENTS
Commissioner Monaweck asked what they were going to do with the old bridge down at the southern end of Athens Township on W Drive. Mr. Randolph stated that they would like to pick it up and haul it out to the Bridge Park. Mrs. Chapman asked Commissioner Monaweck if he new why the name of the bridge was the Wells Bridge? She stated that they always like to get some history on the bridges. Commission Monaweck stated that he had heard that it was called the Wells Bridge, but didn't know anything else about it.
Clarence Millard, Newton Township resident, stated that since the cars on I-94 slow down to look at the park maybe it would be nice to plant a row of Juniper trees and then the cars wouldn't be able to see the park from the road.
Mr. Randolph stated that the lights on the bridges for the holidays were our contribution to the Festival of Lights. He thought it was a bit noisy from the cars and wanted to ask MDOT to put up a noise wall, but then you wouldn't be able to see the lights at all and he didn't want that.
Chairperson Monaweck announced that the next regular meeting of the Board of Park Trustees is scheduled for Wednesday, February 1, 2006 immediately following the 9:00 a.m. Calhoun County Board of Road Commission meeting. There being no additional business before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 10:55 a.m.
