Meeting Minutes

The regular meeting of the Board of Park Trustees of the County of Calhoun was held Wednesday, September 1, 2004 in their office located at 13300 Fifteen Mile Road, Marshall, Michigan.

Present: Commissioner Albert C. Bobrofsky, Chairperson

Commissioner Chester E. Travis, Vice-Chairperson

Commissioner David D. Veramay, Member

Dennis A. Randolph, Managing Director

Joanna I. Johnson, Assistant Managing Director

Angela Kline, Assistant County Highway Engineer

Mary Jo Crumpton, Secretarial Clerk – Deputy Clerk

Also Present: Tom Frank, Albion Township Supervisor

Clinton Bolton, Leroy Township Supervisor

Judy Mackinder, Pennfield Township Supervisor

Joseph Bramble, Convis Township Resident

Alice Godde, Pennfield Township Resident

Dennis Smock, Fredonia Township Resident

Clarence Millard, Newton Township Resident

Pixie Coats, Calhoun County Road Commission

Dave Fuller, Calhoun County Road Commission

Hershel Stacy, Calhoun County Road Commission

Paul Adams, Calhoun County Road Commission

Roger Horton, Calhoun County Road Commission

Jim Russell, Calhoun County Road Commission

Robert Volkmer, Calhoun County Road Commission

Steve Ball, Calhoun County Road Commission

Chairperson Bobrofsky called the meeting to order at 9:38 a.m. There being no additions or corrections to the regular meeting minutes of August 4, 2004 they stand approved as printed and distributed.

Mrs. Annette Chapman reported that she has sent in all the required paperwork for the endowment fund.

Mrs. Chapman said that the Binder Park Zoo has expressed interest in extending the bike lane to the zoo.

Mrs. Chapman informed the Board that she received a call from the City of Springfield expressing their interest in designing a disc golf course, similar to the course at Kimball Pines.

Mrs. Chapman said that she is working on the I-69 Recreational Heritage Route project and is expecting it to receive the designation. The designation ceremony is scheduled for October 8, 2004, at the Welcome Center. The designation of the Recreational Heritage Route is important as it may open up funding for additional projects in this corridor, as well as, adjacent communities. Mrs. Chapman stated that she is interviewing for a part-time, temporary support person under this one-year grant.

Commissioner Veramay asked how we would handle that staff person and their part-time, temporary status.

Mrs. Joanna Johnson responded that we are looking at temp agencies, such as Employment Group, to hire for this position. A written statement is provided that details the job duties and responsibilities, part-time hours of 12 hours per week and the temporary nature of the position, which is one year.

MANAGING DIRECTOR'S REPORT

Mr. Dennis Randolph explained that he and Mrs. Johnson have met with the County Administrator to review the budget and have requested funds. To date, there has been no commitment from the County. Mr. Randolph noted that the Kalamazoo County General Fund provides approximately $475,000 to their park system. The Calhoun County General Fund does not provide any funding for our County Parks. Mr. Randolph emphasized that we do a lot of things throughout the County but only receive 3/10ths of 1% of funding from the County General Fund.

Commissioner Veramay commented that it may not be enough to pitch funding requests to the County Administrator alone and suggested that we get information on other counties' General Fund allocations to give directly to the County Board of Commissioners. They may not understand the benefits of our parks system and how much more we have in Calhoun County today than we did five years ago. We do great things with the resources that we have to work with.

Mr. Randolph stated that the County has a procedure in place to send information directly to the County Administrator first.

Commissioner Veramay suggested that we continue to follow the County's procedure, but provide copies to each County Commissioner as well.

Mr. Randolph said that he would be putting together a packet of information to provide to the incoming Calhoun County Board of Commissioners.

Chairperson Bobrofsky announced that the next regular meeting of the Board of Park Trustees is scheduled for Wednesday, October 6, 2004 immediately following the 7:00 p.m. Calhoun County Board of Road Commission meeting at the Tekonsha Village Office. There being no additional business before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 9:56 a.m.