Parks and Recreation Minutes – November 19, 2013 – Helena Township, Antrim County Michigan

Minutes Parks and Recreation Committee Meeting – Alden Community Center Meeting date: November 19, 2013 approved 1-21, 2014

In attendance: Steve Dell, Carolyn Nowfel, Dave Peterson & Ruth Smith. Absent: Mike Crawford & Jan Loveland

Community Input: No community input.

Minutes from 010/15/2013 -approved as presented & will be published on the HT website.

Information from November Helena Twp. Mtg.: The HT Board will be sending a request to the Chain of Lakes & East Bay Water Trail (GT Regional Land Conservancy) that (I believe) only Chapman Road and Paige Road access be included on the water way map as well as Alden Safe Harbor and Archie Valleau Landing. Rick Teague asked if Steve was planning to pursue the Tribal grant for tennis court resurfacing and I told him that was Steves intention. It was mentioned in this meeting that just short of $6,000 was in the tennis court fund.

OLD BUSINESS:

Steve has obtained the grant application form for GT Band funds and will work on completing it to present to the HT Board at the December meeting. Steve will contact Tom Comfort to let him know of the plans to pursue court resurfacing / replacement. Steve and Ruth will work on locating possible resurfacing businesses in order to obtain estimates for resurfacing as well as replacement of the courts. Prioritize future agenda items. Future agenda items were discussed. It was decided to move the following items to be agenda items at the January meeting: #5- discusses developing a plan concerning a reservation system for all township parks #6 -Discuss possible memo to the Township concerning placing signs at all Parks to clarify Township ownership and whom to contact if there are questions concerning or problems with the Park #9 Carolyn is going to locate where in the HT Master Plan the appointing of someone from the planning commission to the Pks and Rec. board is discussed. She will pass this information on to Dave Peterson for possible action.

#16 determines if we can assess a rental fee for the depot and other parks where DNR grants were obtained. The decision was also made to have an agenda item included at the next meeting to discuss signs used in the township to try to develop a plan that would insure more standardized signage. This will include # 6 above. The Committee decided to have two permanent agenda items beginning in January: 1. Look at the five year plan and start to decide on action steps to move toward some of the goals stated there.

Develop protocol and procedures needed to make decisions as a committee.

NEW BUSINESS: The HT Board has already made the needed decisions and acted on them concerning the Chain of Lakes and East Bay Water Trail.

Action Items needed: Carolyn: 1. to research the HT Master Plan concerning the planning commission appointing one of its members to the Parks and Rec Committee. She will give her findings to Dave Peterson. 2. To talk with Jack Findley about the possibility of the Alden Volunteers taking on the spring cleaning project for Coy Mountain.

3. To write up an ad asking for volunteers for the Pks and Rec. Committee. This is to be published in the paper and posting on the Pk & Rec. board and other appropriate locations.

4. May contact colleges concerning the possibility of students taking on a project to work on a site plan for the Alden Ball Park. Dave: 1. to look over information Carolyn finds concerning the planning commission appointing one of its members to the Parks and Rec Committee to determine appropriate action on this. 2. Will look into any possible restrictions on charging fees for Parks where DNR grant funds were obtained.

3. Will pursue obtaining a bulletin board to be located near the library for posting Pk & Rec materials.

Jan: Talk with Bob Robbins Re: questions concerning public input on the plan not being on the website.

Mike: Volunteered to obtain some abstracts we might find useful.

Ruth: 1.The approved October minutes are to be sent to Joyce Looman for publishing online. 2. The November minutes need to be prepared for review by the Committee and will be sent to Rick after feedback from committee members. 3. Is to work with Steve to obtain the names of contractors from whom to obtain estimates on tennis court resurfacing or replacement. Action Items needed: Steve: 1. Obtain the names of contractors from whom to obtain estimates on tennis court resurfacing or replacement. 2. To prepare a grant application with supporting documentation requesting funds from the GT Band. This will include obtaining estimates and talking with others who have worked on similar grant applications. 3. To present the grant application to the HT board at the December meeting if at all possible.

4. To talk with Tom Comfort concerning the proposed plan for obtaining a grant.

FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS: These items will continue to be carried forward until they are discussed by the Committee 1. Deed restrictions for Helena Twp. Parks are to be reviewed. (Bring copies of deeds -Steve) 2. Riparian rights / possible review by township attorney (Dave) 3. Handicap parking in Helena Township (Discussion). 4. Research rules and laws governing road ending lake access sites (Steve, Ruth) 5. Further discuss Alden Safe Harbor and its park status / ownership memo to Board? 6. Work to update the Parks and Recreation pages of the Helena Township web site. 7. Mike mentioned the AAU Sports / Recreation Complex Morey Complex- and suggested that they may be looking to locate a similar complex in Northern Michigan. 8. Look into the possibility of Flo McCormick (MI Assoc. of Counties) helping with writing any Pks. And Rec. grants. (Mike Crawford). Determine a grant writing resource and consider a grant recommendation review committee (P&R Committee – ?) that would review grants and give input to the Township Board (Rick) 9. Consider Keith Charters as a resource for Pk. & Rec. projects. 10. Check responsibilities of Parks & Rec. Comm. outlined in the current HT Master Plan 11. Any new equipment (picnic tables, benches, etc.) in our parks should not be made of wood (Rick) 12. Follow-up to see that the map we use for Pks & Rec. purposes are correct keep contact with Dan Roketenetz on this. Be sure the signs at the Lake St. and other sites give the public a clear idea of what is public and what is private land.

The next monthly meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 21^st, 2014 at 3 PM at the Helena Township Offices.

Respectfully submitted by Ruth Smith 11-20-2013