The regular meeting of the Board of Park Trustees of the County of Calhoun was held Wednesday, April 5, 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 Veramay, Member
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
Arthur Farmer, Lee Township Supervisor
Eugene Hamaker, Marshall Township Supervisor
Jim Demarest, Emmett Township Supervisor
Gardy Berezonsky, Marengo Township Resident
Joe Bramble, Convis Township Resident
Judy Censke, Emmett Township Resident
David Censke, Emmett Township Resident
Tom Censke, Emmett Township Resident
Peter George, Emmett Township Resident
James Messner, Emmett Township Resident
Polly Messner, Emmett Township Resident
Greg Moore, County Commissioner
Greg Purcell, County Administrator
Walt Gamble, Silver Leaf Renaissance Faire Productions
Paul Adams, Calhoun County Road Commission
Robert Volkmer, Calhoun County Road Commission
Jim Russell, Calhoun County Roads Commission
Steve Ball, Calhoun County Road Commission
Annette Chapman, Calhoun County Parks & Recreation Director

Chairperson Monaweck called meeting to order at 10:10 a.m. He stated that there being no additions or corrections to the special meeting minutes of February 28, 2006 and the regular meeting minutes of March 1, 2006 they stand approved as printed and distributed.

COMMUNICATIONS AND RESOLUTIONS

Received an addendum to the lease agreement between Calhoun County Road Commission and US Golf Cars, Inc., for golf carts at Custer Greens Golf Course

Received a letter from Greg Purcell asking Annette Chapman to distribute the letter from Mr. Tom Censke to the Park Trustees

Received a letter from Mr. Tom Censke voicing concerns regarding renovations being made at Kimball Pines Park

Received Resolution 2006-01, recommendation of the revised Park Rules to the County Board

NEW BUSINESS

Moved by Commissioner Veramay and supported by Commissioner Travis to approve Resolution 2006-01, recommendation of the revised Park Rules to the County Board. Voice vote: Motion carried

PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR'S PRESENTATION

Mrs. Chapman provided the Board with the following presentation on the revised park rules and special use permit:

Update on the revision of the current Park Rules

•  Mrs. Chapman stated the last time the rules were looked at was in 1991 and because of new uses and improvements being made to the parks, we needed to revise the rules to accommodate those uses. (swimming and bathing, camping, special events, playground equipment etc).

•  Special Use Permit was incorporated into the park rules to accommodate the request for the use of alcohol, fireworks, band concerts, etc. in our park.

•  A $150.00 fee is established for the Special Use Permit

•  All Special Use Permit's will need to come before this Board for approval.

•  All rules, regulations and codes will need to be met.

Questions and comments concerning the Park Rules?

A resident asked if the use of alcohol has already been approved. Mrs. Chapman said no that it has not yet been approved but wanted it clarified that these rules are for all County Parks and not just Kimball Pines.

A resident asked if the Silver Leaf Renaissance Festival is taking part ownership in the property. Mr. Randolph said that no one has assumed ownership of Kimball Pines. It is County property and is under the jurisdiction of the Board of Parks Trustees and will remain that way.

Update on the improvements that will take place at Kimball Pines Park and information on the Silver Leaf Renaissance Faire.

•  Silver Leaf Renaissance Faire held their Faire in River Oaks Park in Kalamazoo County for about fourteen years.

•  We have worked out a 30-year Use Agreement with the Silver Leaf organization.

•  The Silver Leaf Renaissance Faire will bring in approximately 25,000 people into the County during the month of July/August.

•  The economic impact to our County could be approximately $500,000.00 or more.

•  Silver Leaf would like to help develop this park not only for their use but to benefit the County Parks System.

•  Silver Leaf is a very family oriented organization.

•  We have agreed to build a parking facility in the Park for approximately 1,500 cars.

•  We will need to clear some of the pine trees.

•  The County Medical Care facility has graciously allowed us to use some of their area during the weekends in July. The main entrance will go through their facility for this year.

•  We have a master plan of the event.

•  We have approximately 1.2 acres of hardwoods and 8 acres of pines that will need to be harvested.

•  In the southern portions will be a primitive camping area.

•  The Silver Leaf Renaissance Faire will be a gated event and they will provide their own security.

•  The parking area will be completed before the second weekend of July.

Questions and comments concerning the construction being done at Kimball Pines Park for the Silver Leaf Renaissance Faire?

A resident questioned the entrance road through the Park. Mrs. Chapman will look at all the options before anything is finalized.

A resident asked how many vendors are they proposing to have at the Faire? Mr. Gamble, Silver Leaf Renaissance Faire Production Coordinator, stated that they have in the area of 30 vendors and the number could go up from there. Last year the Faire had about 80 vendors.

A resident stated that his nephew has attended the Faire for the last 12 years and said it was a great event.

Mr. Chapman stated that we fulfilled our obligation in letting citizens know about the project by advertising in the newspaper.

A resident made it known that he was worried about the access to the park and also the traffic. Mr. Randolph stated that we will look at the circulation and the access and will present it to the Board at the next Parks Trustees meeting. In the mean time, we need to proceed with the parking area.

Mr. Randolph stated that since the Road Commission took over the Parks in 1996, we have only received $2,000.00 from the County, we have had to come up with other funds, and we cannot use road money.

Mr. Randolph stated that he has worked with Jim Demarest on policing the parks and has talked to him about this event. Dennis is willing to get with Jim Demarest after the decision for the road has been determined.

Mr. Jim Demarest stated that this was his first opportunity to see a site plan and it has been a work in progress. He has had communication with Mr. Randolph and Mrs. Chapman but it is not an issue that should come before the Emmett Township Planning Commission. He stated that they would look at the Use Agreement and see where the township parameters lie with this event. He has also had communication with some of the folks from Silver Leaf and they have been good to work with. Emmett Township in regards to policing, will not give away a service and have roughed out a letter of understanding so that there is no cost to the taxpayer for security.

Mr. George, a resident, stated that it is only right that the Township, since they didn't work with the Casino, should work with the parks. Everyone that goes to this faire has a wonderful time and this event is made for the parks. He stated that we are losing a lot of jobs in the County and bringing this kind of event will only help us. He thanked Mr. Randolph for bringing this project here.

Mr. Purcell stated that it is true that the County does not contribute to the Parks because of finance issues. We are looking at creative ways to allow people to utilize our Parks and provide some revenue sources so it can be enhanced. The County Commissioner's will be hearing this presentation tomorrow evening and I feel they will be supportive of the Park Rule changes. He stated that Mr. Randolph is creative and I know he will try to work around some of the concerns. He said it sounds as though the Renaissance Faire has reasonable people to work with and they want to be good neighbors as well. He stated that our parks are underused and Mr. Randolph is correct in saying that if we don't use our parks or don't have people in them, then they become attractive for nuisance kind of uses.

This could be a win, win situation for everyone.

Mr. Moore stated that he appreciated this meeting and wanted everyone to know that he has not had one negative comment about the use, which speaks highly to the Silver Leaf Organization.

COMMISSIONER'S COMMENTS

Commissioner Monaweck stated that the Board would take everyone's concerns into consideration. Mrs. Chapman and Mr. Randolph will be directed to look at all the options. He stated that the Board will try to do everything it can on your behalf and yet still do the right thing for the Park and anyone who uses it. The Board is trying to do the best for everyone.

Commissioner Veramay stated that most Counties will allocate about 1½ to 2 % of their general fund to parks and recreation. Calhoun County is in such a financial bind that they simply don't have the money. In order to have some of these amenities in this County, it takes quite a bit of imagination to get money in here. Mrs. Chapman has been doing a terrific job trying to get financing for the parks. We cannot use road money for these kinds of projects or events and the County just doesn't have the money to give to the parks.

Commissioner Veramay said that the Silver Leaf organization has been investigated and has heard no adverse comments about them. He has only heard good things and is sure we would have heard if they had any problems with their event.

MANAGING DIRECTOR'S REPORT

Mr. Randolph provided the Board with the following information:

• Custer Greens Golf Course is open for operations. The agreement with the Golf Course for the carts has been revised. We are now leasing only two carts per hole.
• When the bike lane on Wattles Road and the Verona bike lane are down to County Park we will have a trail blazed down to Marshall with the exception of a quarter mile on F Drive, where the shoulder doesn't exist. You will be able to go from Battle Creek to Marshall on a marked path.
• Monday we will have a major presentation at the National Association of County Engineers National Meeting. Vern Messler will give the presentation on the restoration at the Bridge Park.
• Mr. Randolph was at Northern Ohio University with some of his students last week for the steel bridge and concrete canoe competition. Mr. Randolph has coordinated this event so that in 2008 it will come into Calhoun County. Michigan State University, along with the American Society of Civil Engineers is sponsoring the competition in 2008. Mr. Randolph talked to Dr. Hatfield and he is interested in coming down to Marshall to have the competition. This competition involves 10 Universities. In 2011, we have made a commitment to Western Michigan University to be the sponsor and he is hoping to bring the operations into the County again.

Chairperson Monaweck announced that the next regular meeting of the Board of Park Trustees is scheduled for Wednesday, May 3, 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 11:18 a.m.