Parks and Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes
December 9, 2008
Watertown Charter Township South Room
Meeting called to order at 7:05pm, by Chairman Dale Westrick.
Members in attendance: Jack Huntoon, Deb Plichta, Troy Font, Dale Westrick and Janice Thelen.
Members absent: Nancy Noyola
Agenda approval: Motion by Huntoon, supported by Plichta to approve the agenda as presented. Motion supported unanimously.
Approval of Minutes: Motion by Huntoon, supported by Plichta to approve the October 28, 2008 Park and Recreation Committee minutes as presented. Motion supported unanimously.
Discussion on events and dates to hold the events for 2009. Motion by Huntoon, supported by Thelen that the Parks and Recreation Committee will host the following events in 2009:
Easter Egg Hunt April 4, 2009
Memorial Day Parade May 23, 2009
Halloween Party October 31, 2009
Santa Party December 12, 2009
Motion unanimously supported.
Discussion on resignation of Janice Thelen from the Parks and Recreation Committee, as the Board of Trustee liaison.
Discussion of the two vacancies on the Park and Recreation Committee, with discussion of possible appointments to fill the vacancies. As a former member of the Parks and Recreation Committee, Jean Husby had requested to be reappointed to the Parks and Recreation Committee during the Board of Trustees November meeting, action on her request was deferred until the December Board of Trustee meeting. Motion by Huntoon, supported by Troy, to recommend Jean Husby be appointed to the Parks and Recreation Committee during the December 2008 Watertown Charter Township Board of Trustee meeting. Motion supported unanimously.
Discussion regarding 2009 Parks and Recreation Committee meeting dates. Scheduled meeting dates for 2009 to be held in the South Meeting Room of the Watertown Charter Township office:
February 24, 2009 7:00pm
May 12, 2009 7:00pm
October 13, 2009 7:00pm
December 1, 2009 7:00pm
Update on the warming house and possible ice skating rink. More information to be presented at a later date.
Discussion on the 5-year Recreation Plan. Plichta expressed a desire to have the plan approved at the Watertown Charter Township Board of Trustees earliest convenience. She would like to begin to implement the 5-year plan in 2009. Plichta suggested that the Board hire an advisor to advise how to take the first steps implementing the plan. She spoke to her reason to join the Parks and Recreation Committee was to move the Parks and Recreation forward, not to just sponsor events. The committee members expressed their support of Plichta’s comments regarding the implementation of the 5-year plan and their desire to move the Parks and Recreation forward. Troy believes that the committee should attend Township Board of Trustee meetings when a topic that concerns the Parks and Recreation is on the agenda and expressed his desire to see the Parks and Recreation Committee as a valuable resource for the community.
The Committee reviewed the boundaries of the Watertown Parkway property and discussed their interest in developing the property into a nature trail/preserve.
Westrick recommended that the Committee members review “Michigan Defining Moments” available on the internet.
Discussion regarding expanding the parks as described in the 5-year plan.
Committee would like to see the following improvements for the parks and the community in 2009:
Discussion regarding inviting the Clinton County Road Commission to attend the February meeting for the purpose of discussion regarding painting the Wacousta Road Bridge, painting the name of the road on the bridge visible from the river and adding flower boxes on both the Herbison Road and Wacousta Road bridges.
Motion by Huntoon, supported by Troy to adjourn at 8:55 pm. Motion supported unanimously.