WATERTOWN CHARTER TOWNSHIP
12803 S. Wacousta Rd.
Grand Ledge MI 48837
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING
Monday, July 14, 2008
10:00 a.m.
Minutes
CALL TO ORDER-PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE-ROLL CALL The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance. Present; Jack Huntoon, Dale Westrick, Deb Plichta and Janice Thelen Nancy Noyola arrived at 10:20 a.m., Troy Font absent without notice
PUBLIC COMMENT- George Weitzel spoke to the committee about Sue Payne owner of the Book Bodega and Hoa Kingsley owner of the General Store regarding future events.
CORRESPONDENCE- None
AGENDA APPROVAL- Thelen asked to add approval of the March 15, 2007 minutes to approval of minutes and Wacousta Day in early June added to Item 2. The veteran memorial and beautifying the bridge is to be added to item 3. Motion by Huntoon, seconded by Plichta to approve the agenda as amended. Motion passed.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES-Regular minutes of March 15, 2007 Motion by Huntoon, seconded by Westrick to approve the minutes of March 15, 2007 as presented. Motion passed.
MONTHLY BUDGET REPORT- Report was provided.
1. Election of Officers- Motion by Thelen, seconded by Noyola to elect Dale Westrick as Chair of the Parks and Recreation Committee through 2009. Motion passed.
Motion by Thelen, seconded by Huntoon to elect Nancy Noyola as Vice-Chair through 2009 and Deb Plichta as secretary through 2009. Motion passed.
2. Discussion regarding 2008-2009 activities-
a. Halloween Party
b. Christmas Party
c. Easter Egg Hunt
d. Memorial Day Parade/Picnic/Triathlon
e. Community Picnic
f. Other-There was discussion on the popularity of the events and attendance. There was discussion on reviving the Heritage Festival as well. Motion by Huntoon seconded by Noyola to approve the Halloween Party, Christmas Party, Easter Egg Party and Memorial Day Parade/ Picnic/Triathlon. Motion passed. Deb Plichta commented that she had a letter in the paper thanking the 25 people that had local garage sales. There were 47 participants that weekend (June 13-14). She has been in contact with the local business owners who had events the weekend after the garage sales and they would all like to do the event at the same time next year. Deb thought that there could be some food vendors and or activities set up at Looking Glass Valley Park. She suggested some arts and crafts, antiques, etc. that could set up in the parking lot of the township. It was suggested that this event take place the 2nd or 3rd weekend of June. Dale Westrick suggested checking with the Masonic Lodge to see if they would be interested in doing something with food that day. Perhaps the boy scouts could do a spaghetti dinner, the fire department a pancake breakfast, etc. Deb commented that there were many children at the garage sales and maybe they could have a petting zoo or something. Nancy Noyola commented that maybe 4-H could do some face painting. Noyola stated that she really enjoyed the Holiday Open House that DeWitt used to do. It is a craft show and people in the community opened up their homes and had crafts, cookies, etc. for sale. Motion by Huntoon, seconded by Thelen that Deb Plichta and Nancy Noyola chair and co-chair the community summer sale event. Motion passed. Plichta and Noyola also offered to chair and co-chair a winter event. Plichta asked about the Heritage Festival being incorporated into the summer event. The committee would like Thelen to contact the Heritage Festival people and set up a meeting between the Festival committee and Plichta and Noyola. Thelen commented that there was a Children First event last summer with LGRFA checking Child restraint seats and the other group working on bicycle safety with every child receiving a bike helmet.
Jack Huntoon left at 11:00 a.m.
It was suggested that perhaps there be a community potluck during the winter. Jean Husby suggested coming up with a mini survey to hand out at the next event with all of the events listed. Maybe ask how much you appreciated this event, what you would like to see, etc. Noyola suggested putting more of the right information in the newsletter and more often with the date of events, time, etc.
Maybe they could end the summer event with a movie and/or music in the park. Noyola stated that she will put our parks information, soccer fields, etc. in the school newsletters in DeWitt. Janice Thelen took a minute to introduce Jean Husby as the Township Clerk, past Parks and Rec member, etc. Dale Westrick stated that the only way anything gets out is by delivering fliers. He delivered about 1300 fliers for the junk day. Westrick stated that they claimed they were going to put the information in the newsletter and there was only a little blurp in the newsletter so he wondered who found out about it. He stated that no one found out about it so he went ahead and had about 1500 fliers made up with Janice delivering to a road, Jean Husby delivering to a road and he got several volunteers to take 6-mile roads and deliver them. He doesn’t think that you can beat doing it that way. It gets the information to the people. Deb Plichta feels the township newsletter is an excellent source to use for information. Janice Thelen suggested utilizing a postcard mailing.
3. Discussion regarding additional uses within the parks
a. Addition of bean bag toss
b. Addition of benches within Heritage and Looking Glass Parks
c. Addition of Dog Park
d. Addition of toddler plan area
e. Addition of skate boarding area-Noyola suggested memorial benches as she is purchasing one from Ingham County in memory of her husband. Westrick commented that he likes to spend money wisely, not spending $1300 to re roof the warming house. He commented on all of the posts at Heritage Park that look like junk. That is not a good perception of the park. Jack Huntoon returned at 11:45 a.m. Husby commented that they could do a walk through and request some maintenance. Noyola suggested having C2AE come in to help renovate the parks.
4. Review and recommendation to accept the Watertown Charter Township Parks and Recreation Master Plan:2008-2013- Westrick asked if the Watertown Parkway land is dedicated to park land or partial park land?? Thelen stated there is no dedication of that land as anything. Thelen stated that the ad hoc committee for Watertown Pky would like to see the land dedicated as green space. Huntoon commented that 15-20 years ago, there was a 5 year plan and they probably only utilized 20% of it. That is how he looks at the new master plan. The students did a great job, but it is not going to happen in Watertown Township. They are not going to hire an architectural firm to come in and evaluate the costs. It is mainly a wish list in his opinion. Noyola stated that the bouncy toys in Heritage Park are illegal and that going to MRPA meetings and seminars is a good way to find these things out.
Noyola would like to have a walk through of the facilities to figure out where to put identification signs for the parks in the township.
It was decided that the members would meet tomorrow (July 15) at 10:00 a.m. for a walk through.
Plichta would like to beautify the bridge somehow maybe with flowers or something. The committee would like to have signs on all of the bridges marking the rivers as well.
There was much discussion amongst the members during the parks walk through. The committee discussed the following: park entrance signs, speed signs, park hours, open access to canoe landing, identify Eagle Scout projects, the tennis courts are in need of repair, name the pavilion after resident or company, replace lights in Heritage Park play area, better handicap accessibility, motion lights within pavilions, benches within play areas, sign at canoe launches identifying location, enclosed volleyball court, trash cans, flowers, tennis courts, stain and seal bathrooms. The committee would like to develop information on parks and recreation on the township website including the hours, rules, rental costs, locations, etc. They also discussed fly fishing lessons.
The committee would like to contact the Road Commission regarding maintenance of the bridges and cleaning up the approaches-Lowell, Herbison, and Wacousta Rds.
The next meeting will be August 13, 2008 at 7:00 p.m.
Adjournment: Motion by Huntoon, seconded by Westrick to adjourn the meeting. Motion passed. Meeting adjourned at 12:10 p.m.