The regular meeting of the Board of Park Trustees of the County of Calhoun was held Wednesday, February 1, 2006 in their office located at 13300 Fifteen Mile Road, Marshall, Michigan.
Present: Commissioner Charles E. Monaweck, Chairperson
Commissioner Chester E. Travis, Vice-Chairperson
Dennis A. Randolph, Managing Director
Joanna I. Johnson, Assistant Managing Director
Pixie Coats, Human Resource Director
Kevin Henning, Finance Director
Also Present: Thomas Frank, Albion Township Supervisor
Gene Hamaker, Marshall Township Supervisor
Clarence Millard, Newton Township Resident
Laura Monaweck, Athens Township Resident
Joe Bramble, Convis Township Resident
Debie Conklin, Emmett Township Resident
Annette Chapman, Calhoun County Parks & Recreation Director
Chairperson Monaweck called meeting to order at 10:18 a.m. He stated that there being no additions or corrections to the regular meeting minutes of January 4, 2006 they stand approved as printed and distributed.
COMMUNICATIONS AND RESOLUTIONS
Received a memo regarding 2005 Audit Engagement letter from Rehmann Robson
NEW BUSINESS
Moved by Commissioner Travis and supported by Commissioner Monaweck to accept and sign 2005 Audit Engagement letter with Rehmann Robson.
PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR'S REPORT
Mrs. Chapman reported the following:
• Mrs. Chapman updated the Board on the proposed Renaissance Festival at Kimball Pines. We will have some work to do on creating a parking lot and electrical work.
• The Kalamazoo Basket Cases will use the disc golf course at Kimball Pines on March 11 th and 12 th for a tournament.
• Mrs. Chapman stated that the Kalamazoo Basket Cases are bidding the World Disc Golf Championship for 2008 and are thinking about bringing it to Kimbal Pines. They need 9 courses to hold the tournament and ours would be one of them. This will bring people from all over the world into this area.
• Mrs. Chapman stated that she has drafted a special use permit and sent it to our attorney for review. She needed to add a few things to the permit regarding liability insurance and liquor license liability insurance. Mrs. Chapman stated that she would then send it to the County for review.
• Mrs. Chapman stated that she did a presentation for the Calhoun County Community Foundation last week and it was well received.
Mr. Randolph asked Mrs. Chapman to look into a couple of different golf course events for Custer Greens.
MANAGING DIRECTOR'S REPORT
Mr. Randolph stated that Kalamazoo County and the Silver Leaf Renaissance Fair organizers did not come to an agreement on their contract for the Renaissance Festival. The fair organizers are now looking all around and are considering either Lila Arboretum or Kimball Pines. We are negotiating right now to have the Renaissance Festival come to Kimbal Pines. An important part of the contract states that we will receive 2 1/2% of gross revenue. The festival will fill the park 4 weekends in July and they will have between 1,500 and 2,000 people each weekend. We do have a problem with the parking, but we are working on trying to figure out a way to timber the trees to allow for more parking and receive revenue from the timber. It's a big opportunity for us.
COMMISSIONER'S COMMENTS
Commissioner Monaweck stated that having the Renaissance Festival at Kimball Pines would be super. It will be nice to get some exposure for the parks.
Chairperson Monaweck announced that the next regular meeting of the Board of Park Trustees is scheduled for Wednesday, March 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 10:35 a.m.
