Leelanau County Parks and Recreation Commission Wednesday, May 18, 2016 at the Government Center at 3:30 p.m. (Commissioners Meeting Room)

Transcription

1 Leelanau County Parks and Recreation Commission Wednesday, May 18, 2016 at the Government Center at 3:30 p.m. (Commissioners Meeting Room) (Proceedings of the meeting are being recorded and are not the official record of the meeting; the formally approved/accepted written copy of the minutes will be the official record of the meeting.) Call to Order: The meeting was called to order by Chairman Greg Julian at 3:32 p.m. Pledge of Allegiance: The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Chairman Julian. Chairman Julian requested that phones be turned off or set to vibrate for the duration of the meeting. Roll Call: Clayton Ball (arrived at 3:37 p.m.) Dave Barrons (absent/excused) Steve Christensen, Vice-Chairman Greg Julian, Chairman Bob Johnson Melinda Lautner John Popa Kyle Trevas (absent/excused) Ty Wessell Guests present. Public Comment: Laurel Evans Administration. Evans said she toured both Myles Kimmerly and Old Settlers Parks last Friday and was primarily interested in looking at the grub shacks. A member of the community wanted to reserve the grub shack. These types of requests are rare, but our county website does reflect that it is one of the amenities available to the public. She said Administrator Chet Janik had agreed to let the gentleman reserve the grub shack for a memorial service on June 5, Evans had looked at the Old Settlers grub shack and thought it appeared to be very sturdy. The Myles Kimmerly grub shack was not as sturdy. Evans suggested that if the Parks & Recreation Commission is not going to let the public use the grub shacks, then it should be taken off the website as an amenity. Christensen expressed his appreciation of Evans and Janik s work and strongly urged the group to consider granting public use of grub shack for at least this only use.

2 Agenda Approval: Discussion Christensen noted the following changes to the agenda under New Business: Move Fish Days to Action Item A; Senior Project Sign to Action Item B; Approval of Minutes to Action Item C. Motion by Popa to accept the agenda as amended. Seconded by Ball. Financial Reports: Maintenance staff Scott Bradley reported that the temporary office assistant is at 100% of budget because there is no budget. Lautner and Christensen agreed to let this ride for now and they will keep an eye on this. Motion by Christensen to approve financial report as presented. Seconded by Lautner. Action Items Fish Days: Pete Taylor of the Lake Leelanau Lake Association commented that the 11 th Annual Kids Fishing Day is June 26, 2016, and is a successful countywide event. Heather Hettinger, CLMMU Fisheries Biologist for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) was present and handed out information on the proposal for fish stocking from Laggis Fish Farm, Inc., in Gobles, Michigan (on file). The packet included the fish stocking request, a history of fish that are stocked in the pond and the invoice from Laggis Fish Farm. The cost of fish went up $81.30, with the increase due to freight. Christensen asked and Hettinger responded the largemouth bass being caught in the ponds are large. Taylor presented a picture of a boy holding largemouth bass that he caught. Hettinger said they do not want any more largemouth bass because they will eat too many of the smaller bluegills. Christensen asked Hettinger about milfoil and Hettinger responded that they have Eurasian milfoil and native milfoil and eventually the Commission will need an eradication plan. The Commission will need to consider and hire someone who applies herbicides. Taylor commented that there is a gentleman on the Kids Fishing Day committee who is has been successfully cutting out the weeds. The County may want to consider hiring him to cut weeds one more time this year. Christensen suggested coming back next month with a bid, and added the long ponds don t need treatment. A new activity this year for the kids fishing day is a walking tour of the old park. Two or three walking tours will be available that day. Taylor commented that the stream flow is now natural. 2

3 Motion by Christensen to allow the Lake Leelanau Lake Association to purchase fish from Laggis Fish Farm, Inc., to plant in the Veronica Valley ponds on behalf of the Leelanau County Parks and Recreation Commission, and then reimburse the Lake Association upon presentation of the invoice for that purchase in the amount of $4, after the fish have been planted. Seconded by Lautner. Discussion Hettinger said that in the past the Lake Leelanau Lake Association has paid the full amount and then bills the Parks & Recreation Commission for the fish. Lautner said we have to have a bill for product or service. Taylor then asked for $ more from the County due to rising costs. Christensen said that the County is doing enough and will not contribute anymore. Lautner asked about volunteer vests and Taylor said they have enough. Johnson commented on whether ponds are restricted to children only, as well as to catch and release. Hettinger commented that there were a lot of kids out there and fishing pond is for children, not adults. Chairman Julian thanked them for their hard work and commitment. Ball commented on a need to step up eradication of milfoil. Parks and Recreation will wait for bid to come in and then possibly do a second clipping and get an evaluation from Hettinger and go from there. Hettinger commented that if we have water passage issues in culverts, we need to talk to DJ Shook, of the NRCS Natural Resource Conservation Service) because part of the grant funding includes monitoring. Hettinger to touch base with Shook. Senior Project Park Sign: Ana Manners presented her senior project sign on invasive plants. She has been in contact with Laurel Voran. The sign will be installed in Old Settlers Park. Lautner asked if the sign was waterproof and what type of mounting would be used. Voran said she has a location for where the sign will be put up. Chairman Julian asked Ball to take a picture of Christensen, Julian and Manners together with the sign. Applause followed. Approval of Minutes from April 20, 2016: Motion by Christensen to approve the financial report as presented. Seconded by Popa. Old Business Barn Committee Status Report Lautner: Lautner said the Board of Commissioners visited and looked over the County barn at Myles Kimmerly and they have a visual now when they discuss it. Ball recommended that someone 3

4 approach the Ed and Virginia Ball Foundation in order to submit a grant request from them. Ball said they may be receptive to help the County on this project. Ball will give Lautner information. RTV Track Kit and Trail Groomer Update: Bradley noted he had received quotes from three firms for the track kit. Motion by Christensen to accept the bid from Ginop Sales for the purchase of a Kubota RTV track kit in the amount of $9, Seconded by Popa. Discussion Bradley to handle correspondence. Ball asked about installation. Bradley said there was a one-time fee to mount brackets. Ball asked if we were sure about this and Julian said that Bradley has done a lot of research on this. Forestry Plan Draft: Christensen introduced the document, which had been ed to Commission members (on file). Christensen commented on options that are being given. There is an Option #1, Option #2 and a combo option of #1 and #2. Christensen recommended Management #2 and using the management for wildlife technique on that unit. Chairman Julian left the meeting at 4:42 p.m.; Vice-Chairman Christensen then took over. Discussion continued that after last year s storm in August, there are trees in there that are old and dangerous. A licensed arborist will mark all the hazard trees and take them down. Options #1 and #2 suggest getting rid of all dangerous trees and then do a harvest. Vice-Chairman Christensen would like a trail to go around the parks and Bradley could make a track for snow machines. Popa commented that we may need a special meeting for this. Christensen would like all to read carefully and he would like to see some trails put in this area. Popa requested a print copy. Johnson asked what the value is for us. Christensen said aspen trees are important for grouse hunting. Johnson asked if we want a park or a park managed for wildlife; he doesn t want to see harvesting. Ball commented that the goal is to manage the property long term with consistently. Next month, when everyone has had a chance to study this, they will discuss where to go with this project. Ball said it is important to have a more intelligent discussion. Christensen will invite Conservation District Forester Kama Ross and Forester Daniel Schillinger to the next meeting. New Business Myles Kimmerly Plan Update: Christensen talked to Dusty and it is on Christensen s to do list. Veronica Valley Native Prairie / Savannah Planting Plan Update Barrons: Bradley commented that Conservation District Resource Specialist Tom Adams has fencing in and trees are planted. Bradley noted it took him 7 ½ to 8 hours to mow a 4 to 5 acre area. Ball asked if we would continue to mow or contract it out. Scott said he can mow three times a year. 4

5 Monkey Flower/Signage update Laurel Voran: Voran noted wording and artwork is done. Image 360 will do the QR Code for $14.00, so the total is $ plus $ Concern was expressed over $ for the sign post. Popa asked about the cost of the sign; why can t the Road Commission jackhammer two posts? Vice- Chairman Christensen said someone needs to research other options and present at the next meeting. Lautner doesn t like steel frames in parks. Christensen mentioned we need something that works and will last a long time. Lautner said it needs to be downsized, as that price is ridiculous. Bradley to do more research on project. Commission Member Opening: Vice-Chairman Christensen noted everyone has the information and recommended tabling until the next meeting. Consensus to table the Member opening issue until the next meeting. Grub Shack at Old Settlers: Motion by Lautner, that until further research is done, to remove the grub shack off the website as an available structure for public use. Seconded by Christensen. Discussion Lautner said her assumption is that the grub shack would continue to be used for one day each year by the Old Settlers Picnic Association and Masonic Lodge for the annual Old Settlers Picnic. We have issues to look at, and need to decide whether we want to open it up for public use. Lautner said as she remembers, the main issue is the potential liability with the hinged doors. Bradley stated there are electrical issues. More comments followed. Ball asked if anything was in the grub shack and Bradley responded there are three refrigerators and shelving. Discussion followed on potentially forming a committee to discuss what to do with both grub shacks. A request will be made to have the grub shack amenity taken off the County s website. Triangle of Park Property Across the Street from Old Settlers: Vice-Chairman Christensen noted Evans had sent out an on this issue, which needs to be studied before the next Regular Commission meeting. Secretary for P&R Commission: Discussion followed on who was elected secretary. Lautner to follow up with research. Vice- Chairman Christensen noted Evans is looking for the history all the handouts so that a record will be filed. Discussion ensued. Lautner to get together with Evans. Parks Update Old Settlers: Bradley noted bids were sought for the Old Settlers Park reseeding none were received. He then talked with Administrator Janik, who suggested he contact some local contractors. Elmer s had supplied a quote of $72,000.00; he got a new bid for fewer services and it came in at 5

6 $32, for leveling and seeding. Bradley noted TSR Lawn & Landscape will do the job at a cost of $4, for grass seed, mulch and topsoil. Motion by Johnson to accept the quote from TSR Lawn & Landscape to put in topsoil, grass seed, and mulch at Old Settlers Park in the amount of $4, Seconded by Lautner. Discussion It was noted the work will encompass the entire park. Bradley remarked there is no way for him to mow it in its current condition. Vice-Chairman Christensen remarked they cannot wait for the next full board meeting. Popa suggested waiting until September because it is too dry. If that is not possible, it needs to be done immediately. Discussion followed. Myles Kimmerly: Vice-Chairman Christensen commented on a dog bite incident at Myles Kimmerly. Animal Control Deputy Wayne Kalchik did report. Lautner asked how we found out about dog bite which amounted to a scratch on a child s lip. Christensen said the dog was on a leash, the child asked the owner and parent if he could pet the dog. The dog was fine at the time and then when the child later went to pet dog, the dog bit the child. Lautner said no dogs should be on the field where kids are. Christensen read what the Veronica Valley rules are. Christensen said the wording should be changed, but MMMRA needs to be contacted. Lautner said we do not police the park. Johnson commented that we should have the same rules at all parks. Christensen and Lautner said that is not possible due to bird hunting. Consensus to add Park Rules to the agenda for further discussion at the next meeting. Veronica Valley: Done. Committee Reports: County Board of Commissioners: Done. Building and Grounds Committee from the Meeting of 5/6/16: Christensen commented that we all have copies of those minutes. The next Parks & Recreation Commission Regular meeting will be held June 15, 2016, and the next Building & Grounds Committee meeting will be held on June 10, 2016, at 8:30 a.m. Motion by Lautner to approve the Building & Grounds Committee meeting minutes of May 6, Seconded by Popa. 6

7 Maintenance Report Bradley: Done. Public Comment: Commissioner Comments: Chairperson s Comments: Adjournment: Motion by Christensen to adjourn. Seconded by Ball. Meeting adjourned at 5:41 p.m. Respectfully, Mary Holmes 7