The regular meeting of the Board of Park Trustees of the County of Calhoun was held Wednesday, December 7, 2005 in their office located at 13300 Fifteen Mile Road, Marshall, Michigan.

Present: Commissioner Charles E. Monaweck, Chairperson

Commissioner Chester E. Travis, Member

Commissioner David D. Veramay, Vice Chairperson

Dennis Randolph, Managing Director

Joanna I. Johnson, Assistant Managing Director- Board Clerk

Angela Kline, Assistant County Highway Engineer

Annette Chapman, Calhoun County Parks & Recreation Director

Chairperson Monaweck called the meeting to order at 11:17 am. He stated that there being no additions or corrections to the regular meeting minutes of November 16, 2005 they stand approved as printed and distributed.

COMMUNICATIONS AND RESOLUTIONS:

Received memo dated 11/22/05 from Annette Chapman, Parks Director regarding Trout Unlimited and their interest in Historic Bridge Park.

NEW BUSINESS:

Moved by Commissioner Travis and supported by Commissioner Veramay to authorize the purchase/transfer of Kimball Pines Parkway, Emmett Twp. Voice vote: Motion carried.
Moved by Commissioner Travis and supported by Commissioner Veramay to approve the 2006 Parks fee schedule. Voice vote: Motion carried.
Moved by Commissioner Travis and supported by Commissioner Veramay to approve the 2006 Custer Greens Golf Course fee schedule. Voice vote: Motion carried.
Moved by Commissioner Travis and supported by Commissioner Veramay to approve the 2006 Calhoun County Board of Park Trustees meeting schedule. Voice vote: Motion carried.

PARKS & RECREATION DIRECTOR REPORT:

• Mrs. Chapman discussed the memo she had written to the Board. Trout Unlimited and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources is interested in completing a project at Historic Bridge Park, specifically Dickenson Creek. Dickenson Creek has been known to contain Brown Trout and the MDNR has planted fish in the stream before. They would like to turn Dickenson Creek into an urban fishery. In doing so, they would like to do some shore restoration along the creek and place some interpretive signage as well as plant the stream with fish and monitor. This project would be no cost to us. Mrs. Chapman stated that she supported the project and expressed interest to Trout Unlimited and the MDNR. Trout Unlimited will submit plans to us for approval and will also be completing the permitting process with the MDNR. The MDNR also stated to Mrs. Chapman that the culvert that allows Dickenson Creek to traverse the county trailway and sits north of the train trestle is not sized correctly and is causing sediment problems in the creek to the north. They expressed that there may be grant monies to use to replace the culvert with a historic bridge or supercore through the Fisheries Department of the MDNR. The MDNR will be contacting Mrs. Chapman with grant opportunities.

• Mrs. Chapman also reminded the board of the invitation to Historic Bridge Park on December 19, 2005 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm to see the bridge lights and have some snacks. She stated the Mr. Randolph invited all CCRC employees as well as County employees.

• Mrs. Chapman gave an update regarding the Wattles Road Bike Lane Project. She stated that it is about 98% complete. Paving issues will be completed in the spring and she extended the completion date for the project to May 1, 2006.

• Mrs. Chapman spoke about the Eagle Scout Project at Historic Bridge Park. The project consisted of building a deck at the end of the Bauer Road Bridge for egress from the bridge to the other side of Dickenson Creek. The Eagle Scout completing this project is Josh Cook, son of Tim Cook, an employee of the CCRC. Josh did an excellent job. The project is officially complete today and about 50% of the wood is lumber that we had milled from CCRC tree removal. Mrs. Chapman will be putting an article in the employee newsletter regarding this project.

Managing Director's Report

M r. Randolph announced that author Eric Deloney was visiting today and will be touring Historic Bridge Park. Mr. Deloney has written articles about the park recently.

Mr. Randolph also spoke about how when attending a meeting, individuals in attendance expressed an interest in working with us to construct a bridge along the Kal-Haven trail. They have requested a quote.

COMMISSIONER COMMENTS

Commissioner Monaweck stated that he had recently been visiting relatives in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. While there, he learned about a local draw bridge that had recently been declared historical and how the local people wanted to restore it. The locals had known about Historic Bridge Park and Commissioner Monaweck was impressed that our park was known to people so far away. He got a copy of the most recent article about Historic Bridge Park and sent it to his relatives. His relatives will be visiting this summer and want to see Historic Bridge Park.

Commissioner Veramay stated that he thought Mrs. Chapman does a very nice job in regards to the parks and their development with not much to work with. He also expressed that he thought Historic Bridge Park need more parking. Mrs. Chapman also expressed an interest in getting more family activities at the park, such as a playground structure.

Chairperson Monaweck announced that the next regular meeting of the Board of Park Trustees is scheduled for Wednesday, January 4, 2006 immediately following the 9:00 a.m. Calhoun County Road Commission meeting. There being no additional business before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 11:34 a.m.