[00:00:02]
>> [MUSIC]. DON'T LOOK LIKE THERE IS TOO MUCH IMPORTANT STUFF ON THERE.
>> NO IT SHOULD BE PRETTY QUICK.
WE HAVE A COUPLE OF FREE ACTION ITEMS AND A COUPLE OF DISCUSSION ITEMS [MUSIC]
>> IT'S GOING TO STORM. MY GOD'S STANDING NEXT TO ME.
YOU CAN ALWAYS TELL WHEN IT'S GOING TO RAIN OR STORM.
ALL OF A SUDDEN THE DOG FOLLOWS YOU AROUND.
>> OTHER THAN THAT, HE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU.
>> BUT WE HAVE OUR DEAR MANAGEMENT MEETING TONIGHT WITH HUNTERS AT DUNBAR CENTER.
GETTING READY TO GET THAT STARTED.
THEN FARMER'S MARKET, IT'S GOING GREAT.
WE HAVE OUR WEDNESDAY NIGHT STUFF.
I'LL BE REPORTING ON ALL THIS.
>> THE CONCERTS ARE REALLY TURNING OUT GREAT.
THEN I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH TIME YOU'VE HAD TO LOOK AT THE SURVEY RESULTS.
VERY INTERESTING. I THINK WE MIGHT EVEN SCHEDULE A WORK SESSION JUST FOR ALL OF US TO [OVERLAPPING].
THAT WOULD BE GOOD. THERE'S INTERESTING THINGS ON THAT.
I DIDN'T KNOW REALLY IT WAS 4:30 TODAY.
>> HERE'S MARY. SHE PROBABLY CAN'T GET IN. HI, MARY.
>> YEAH. AMANDA, JUST SEND [OVERLAPPING].
STEVEN, I'VE GOT MARY FARRIS, ON THE LINE. OH, THERE'S AMANDA.
>> SHE NEEDS TO GET CLICKED IN [NOISE].
>> REMEMBER YOU CAN JUST FLOAT OVER THEM AND PROMOTE TO PANELISTS THEN THEY'LL COME INTO PANEL.
>> [LAUGHTER] I WAS TALKING, YOU GUYS DRY DAY THOUGH.
OKAY. GOOD. THEN, OF COURSE, MY PERSONAL PHONE DIED AS SOON AS THE MEETING STARTED SO THEN I CAME OUT BECAUSE I COULDN'T FIND YOUR PHONE NUMBER.
BUT I SENT AN EMAIL AND HERE YOU ARE.
NOTHING LIKE A LITTLE PANIC LUANN, [LAUGHTER] AS THE MEETING'S STARTING, I'M SURE THAT WAS [OVERLAPPING].
>> WE'RE FINE. I HAVEN'T SEEN [OVERLAPPING]
>> SEEMED A DIFFERENT ENTRANCE THIS TIME FOR WHATEVER REASON.
>> AS IS WE WERE JOINING A WEBINAR.
>> YEAH. I DON'T KNOW WHAT [OVERLAPPING].
BUT IF YOU USE YOUR PANELISTS LINK, THAT WAS EMAILED TO YOU BEFORE A LONG TIME AGO, WE SHOULD PROBABLY RESEND THEM, YOU'LL COME IN.
>> YEAH, WE GOT A DIFFERENT LINK THIS TIME.
>> THANKS FOR CLOSING THAT LOOP THOUGH, EVERYBODY. I'M GOING TO MUTE AGAIN.
>> OKAY. I'M GOING TO MUTE TOO.
MIKE MCDONALD, IS WALKING UP RIGHT NOW.
I'M GOING TO SET HIM UP ON A COMPUTER HERE, SO WE'LL BE DELAYED FOR JUST A COUPLE MORE MINUTES.
>> ALL RIGHT. I WILL NOT CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER AND TELL MIKE TO GET THAT UP.
[NOISE] I HOPE EVERYBODY IS HAVING A LOVELY WEEK.
>> WE NEED TO GET LIKE A COMPUTER OR SOMETHING THAT HE CAN WORK ON.
>> OR SOMETHING, CATCH HIM UP TO SPEED ON TECHNOLOGY OR SOMETHING.
I DON'T KNOW. IT'S FUNNY. IT'S GREAT.
>> I WAS A LITTLE BUMMED TODAY, MY SON'S SOCCER GAME WAS CANCELED.
WELL, IT WAS MOVED TO TOMORROW BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER.
>> YEAH, IT'S GOING TO BE BAD.
>> YEAH, IS IT GOING TO BE BAD, MARK?
>> YEAH. IT'S STARTING TO RAIN NOW AND THERE'S SOME BIG STORMS COMING THROUGH.
WE WERE GOING TO GET KIDS IN THE RIVER ON THURSDAY AND THERE'S GOING TO BE ENOUGH WATER WHERE THE RIVER IS GOING TO BE TOO HIGH OF SPEED, SO WE DECIDED NOT TO.
>> YEAH. WELL, COLLEGE KIDS WOULDN'T BE TOO BAD, BUT [LAUGHTER] THE ONES THAT ARE NOT FAR GONE YET.
>> YOU KNOW, I HELP FOR MOVING TO THE DORMS THIS YEAR AND THOSE ON CAMPUS THIS WEEK.
IT WAS JUST SO NICE TO BE OUT THERE WITH ALL THE KIDS THOUGH AND THINK WHAT'S AHEAD OF THEM AT THERE TIME IN THEIR LIFE.
>> GOOD AND BAD, HARD AND EASY.
>> I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS ON CAMPUS MY FRESHMAN YEAR, WHEN I TOOK CLASSES AT LCC AND AT MSU.
AT LCC, IT WAS A SCHOOL PAPER AND MSU IT WAS LSJ AND I STILL HAVE THE ARTICLES.
THE ONE WITH MSU, I WAS JUST LIKE ALL OVER THE MOON, OVER THE TOP.
[00:05:02]
SUPER HAPPY TO BE ON CAMPUS.I'M SURE THAT'S A LOT OF THE SENTIMENT.
I MEAN, HOPEFULLY THIS YEAR GIVEN ALL THE CHALLENGES, BUT I ALSO CAN UNDERSTAND IF IT WAS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT TOO WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON.
LOTS OF THINGS HAVE CHANGED FOR THEM.
>> YEAH, I SEE THEM WALKING AROUND MY BUILDING WITH THEIR PHONES TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THEY ARE.
>> THAT'S NOT NEW FOR YOU, IS IT, MARK?
>> I MEAN, WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT LAST YEAR.
IT WAS PRETTY DEAD IN THE BUILDINGS, BUT NOW IT'S PRETTY FUNNY TO WATCH THEM.
>> OKAY. SO WE DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY AIR CONDITIONING HERE AND SO I HAVE A FAN ON.
CAN YOU GUYS HEAR THAT? IS IT A PROBLEM IN THE BACKGROUND?
I SEE THAT COMMISSIONER MCDONALD HAS JOINED THE MEETING, SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER AT THIS TIME AT 4:36.
[1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER]
>> JUST SO EVERYONE KNOWS THAT THIS MEETING IS BEING TELEVISED LIVE ON HOMTV.
>> GREAT. WONDERFUL. WELCOME EVERYONE OUT THERE WATCHING TODAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TUNING IN TO OUR MEETING.
I WANT TO OPEN IT UP NOW TO OUR AGENDA ITEM NUMBER TWO, WHICH IS PUBLIC COMMENT.
DO WE HAVE ANYBODY ON THE PHONES OR ANYONE IN THE VIEW OR CHAT?
>> OF COURSE, PEOPLE WATCHING FROM HOMTV COULD DIAL INTO 517-349-1232.
THERE ARE NO ATTENDEES IN THE AREA WHERE WE WOULD OFFER THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE THEIR HAND.
WE'RE HEARING NO TELEPHONES RING AT THIS TIME.
>> WONDERFUL. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THREE,
[3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]
WHICH IS APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA.>> I HAVE A CHANGE ON AMENDMENT TO THE AGENDA.
>> YEAH. I WOULD LIKE TO ADD UNDER SEVEN DISCUSSION, WE'LL HAVE B IS THE EASEMENT REQUEST FROM CONSUMERS ENERGY FOR WONCH PARK.
THAT WOULD BE DISCUSSION LETTER B. I DON'T KNOW IF WE WANTED TO PUT THE UNIVERSAL ACCESS ADVISORY BOARD COMMENTS THERE OR SAVE THAT UNDER COMMISSIONER COMMENTS LATER.
THAT'S PROBABLY A BETTER IDEA.
REALLY, THAT'S THE ONLY ADDITION WE HAVE, IS THE EASEMENT REQUESTS FOR DISCUSSION FOR CONSUMERS ENERGY.
>> THANK YOU, LUANN, FOR THAT ADDITION.
WITH THAT ADDITION, WOULD ANYBODY LIKE TO MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA?
>> I MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.
>> THANK YOU, MARY. WHO'D LIKE TO SECOND? OKAY. COMMISSIONER STEVENS, I SAW YOUR HAND FIRST.
[4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – August 10, 2021 Regular Meeting Minutes]
THEN WE'LL GO TO OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR, APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM OUR LAST MEETING, WHICH WAS AUGUST 10TH, 2021.[NOISE] WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTE? COMMISSIONER MCDONALD WOULD LIKE TO MOTION TO APPROVE AND MR. STEVENS WILL SECOND.
THANK YOU. NEXT UP IS COMMUNICATIONS.
[5. COMMUNICATIONS]
[NOISE]>> I THINK I ONLY ADDED ONE COMMUNICATION INTO THE PACKET.
[NOISE] I PUT TOGETHER A LIST OF BUDGETED PROJECTS THAT TOOK PLACE FROM 2013-2021, AT THE REQUEST OF MANAGER WALSH.
I JUST THOUGHT THAT IT WAS A DEFINITE POINT OF INTEREST THAT I THINK THE PARK COMMISSION, I'M SURE YOU ALL KNOW ABOUT IT, BUT WHEN YOU SEE IT ALL TOGETHER, IT'S A LOT OF STUFF THAT HAS HAPPENED IN OUR PARKS.
IF YOU DON'T MIND, I WOULDN'T MIND RUNNING DOWN THE LIST REAL QUICK.
>> YEAH. IT'S FINE. SOUNDS GOOD.
ARE YOU GOING TO READ ALL OF THEM OFF OR JUST [OVERLAPPING] A LITTLE BIT?
>> I WILL BUT I'LL BE FAST. [OVERLAPPING]. IN 2014, WE ADDED THE PAVED TRAIL IN WATCH PARK.
THEN WE ALSO ADDED SAND VOLLEYBALL COURTS THAT WE HAD AT NANCY MOORE AND AT NORTH MERIDIAN PARK AND WE BROUGHT IN LAKE MICHIGAN BEACH SAND FOR THOSE SAND VOLLEYBALL COURTS, AND THERE'S FOUR OF THEM.
WE PUT A BRAND NEW PAVILION IN WATCH PARK IN 2016.
WE ALSO ADDED THE FITNESS EQUIPMENT AT WATCH PARK AND WE RESURFACED THE PARKING LOT.
THEN ALSO IN '16, WE RENOVATED THE TENNIS COURTS AT HILLBROOK, WHERE WE ALSO MADE PICKLEBALL COURTS AND RESURFACED THE PARKING LOT, AND THEN IMPROVED THE HALF BASKETBALL COURT, PUT NEW PLAY EQUIPMENT IN HILLBROOK.
THE WHOLE NEW ORLANDO PARK WAS A FULL NEW DEVELOPMENT.
THE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT AT LUKE TRAIL, AND THEN CONSTRUCTED FOR NEW DUGOUTS AT HARTFORD PARK IN '16.
ADDED A BUILDING GENERATOR IN 2017.
[00:10:02]
THAT HAPPENED THE YEAR AFTER THE YEAR OF THE ICE STORM.NOW, WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE ANIMALS BEING TOO COLD IN THERE IF FOR SOME REASON OR TOO HOT, I GUESS IF WE LOSE POWER AGAIN.
TOWNER ROAD PARK WAS DEVELOPED IN '17 AND '18.
A NEW PAVILION AT NORTH MARINE ROAD PARK IN 18.
NEW TRAILHEAD AND DIRECTIONAL SIGNAGE FROM '18-'21.
ADDED A NEW SMALL DOG PARK IN 2018.
THE TIHERT LINN PRESERVE WAS ADDED IN 1890 ACRES, AS WELL AS THE MANDENBERG WOODS OF FOUR ACRES.
PONDEROSA LAND PRESERVE IN '18 OF 92 ACRES.
ALSO ADDED THE NOMOKI [INAUDIBLE] PRESERVE OF 12 ACRES IN '18.
THE COURTYARD PROJECT AT THE SENIOR CENTER.
MARKETPLACE ON THE GREEN WAS FROM '18 UNTIL 2020.
OVERFLOW PARKING LOT LAST YEAR WAS ADDED AT TOWNER ROAD PARK.
WE PAVED THE ENTRY DRIVE AT LAKE PARK LAST YEAR.
THE CENTRAL MERIDIAN REGIONAL TRAIL CONNECTOR, WHICH IS THE PAVED TRAILS OR CENTRAL PARK FISHING DOCK IN CENTRAL PARK SOUTH.
THAT'S JUST COMPLETING NOW, SO THAT'S 2020 AND 2021.
THE GATEWAY WALKWAY AND RESTROOM IN HISTORICAL VILLAGE WAS LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR.
NEW PAVILION IN HARRIS NATURE CENTER AND A RESTAURANT AT HARRIS NATURE CENTER.
THAT'S A LOT OF STUFF BECAUSE THAT'S 2013 AND THE MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP PARTS.
>> LUANN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING THAT LIST.
I THINK IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT FOR THOSE WATCHING AND THAT WILL WATCH THIS EPISODE AGAIN TO SEE AND HEAR ALL THE THINGS THAT HAD BEEN DONE IN THE PARKS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME AND HIGHLIGHTING AND SHOWCASING THAT.
THANK YOU TO YOUR WORK, TO THE BOARD'S WORK, TO YOUR TEAM'S WORK, TO EVERYBODY'S WORK, THOSE WHO WORKED ON THESE PROJECTS AND HELPING THOSE COME TO FRUITION AS WELL AS TO MAINTAIN THEM AND KEEP THEM UP FOR ALL OF US TO ENJOY, ESPECIALLY DURING THIS TIME WHEN MORE FOLKS ARE ENJOYING THE PARKS.
I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE WITH THE PANDEMIC HAD THESE NOT ALL BEEN PUT INTO PLACE AND DONE, YOU KNOW WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE FOR US.
I'M VERY GRATEFUL THAT WE'VE HAD THE CHANCE TO DO THAT.
ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO COME IN ON THE LIST THAT LUANN SHARED?
>> I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADD TO THAT.
IT'S NOT ONLY THE PARK MILLAGE MONEY THAT FUNDED THESE PROJECTS.
THERE WERE GRANTS ATTACHED TO NEARLY EVERY SINGLE PROJECT THAT I LISTED OFF.
AS WE WORKED SO HARD TO LEVERAGE YOUR LOCAL MONEY, WE APPRECIATE OUR RESIDENTS AND THE PARK MILLAGE SUPPORT THAT WE GET.
BUT WE MAKE DEBTS, WE STRETCH IT AND MAKE IT GO AS FAR AS WE CAN.
THERE WERE SOME CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE GENERAL FUND, BUT MOST OF IT WERE GRANTS AND THEN LOCAL MATCHES WITH OUR PARK MILLAGE.
>> THANK YOU [OVERLAPPING] VERY MUCH.
>> AN IMPRESSIVE LIST AND HOW NICE TO GIVE AN OUTLINE LIKE THAT, LUANN, SO THAT ANYBODY CAN PULL THAT UP AT ANY TIME TO SEE WHERE THE MONEY WENT AND HOW THAT MONEY WAS LEVERAGED.
I JUST WANT TO APPLAUD YOU AND YOUR STAFF'S LEADERSHIP AND MOMENTUM ON THIS BECAUSE THIS ISN'T BEING INVOLVED IN THIS, SEE NOW, FOR 40 PLUS YEARS.
IF YOU DON'T DO THE PLANNING BEFORE EVERYBODY CAN SEE THAT, YOU DON'T END UP WITH THE PROJECTS THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO HAVE GROUNDBREAKINGS FOR OPENINGS FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME, BUT IT'S ALL YOUR WORK AS WELL.
IT TOOK A VILLAGE TO MAKE IT ALL HAPPEN.
>> YEAH. IT TOOK A TOWNSHIP TO MAKE IT ALL HAPPEN [OVERLAPPING].
GOOD POINT, COMMISSIONER FARRIS.
I THINK IF ANYBODY'S DONE ANY WORK WITH GRANTS, IT TAKES A LOT TO MANAGE EVEN ONE GRANT, LET ALONE THIS MANY OVER THIS AMOUNT OF TIME.
IT'S INCREDIBLE WORK. MR. MCDONALD.
>> I JUST THOUGHT I'D ADD BECAUSE WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE UNIVERSAL ACCESSIBILITY BOARD LATER.
TO HIGHLIGHT BLUE [NOISE] THE DETAILS OF, LET'S JUST SAY THAT PLAYGROUND AT HILLBROOK THAT HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS SO IMPORTANT TO SO MANY PEOPLE AS YOU SAID EARLIER, BUT I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION.
IT SAYS, 80,000, I THINK YESTERDAY, MARY AND I HEARD THAT IT ACTUALLY CAUSED QUITE A BIT MORE, OR DID IT COME IN AT 80,000? THAT'S ALL.
>> THAT WAS A GRANT WHERE IT WAS A HALF OF PARK MILLAGE AND A HALF OF A GRANT.
I HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT REAL QUICK.
>> NO, THAT WAS THE COST, WAS $80,000.
MARY AND I WILL TALK ABOUT THE BOARD MEETING YESTERDAY LATER.
>> SOUNDS GREAT. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MCDONALD.
[00:15:02]
MOVING ON TO OUR NEXT ITEM IS ACTION ITEMS AND LUANN,[6.a. Resolution of Declaration and Notice- LWCF Gateway Path and Restroom Grant]
THE FIRST ONE ON THAT LIST IS THE RESOLUTION OF DECLARATION AND NOTICE FOR THE GATEWAY PATH AND RESTROOM GRANT.WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THIS RESONANCE?
>> AS WE JUST SPOKE EARLIER ABOUT HOW WE UTILIZE GRANT FUNDING TO FINISH PROJECTS, AS WE TRY TO CLOSE THESE PROJECTS OUT.
I KNOW I'VE GOT TWO MEMBERS HERE THAT WERE FORMER DNR GRANTS DIVISION FOLKS.
THERE IS THIS RESOLUTION THAT THEY REQUEST OF COMMUNITIES WHO ARE RECEIVING MONEY.
IT'S JUST LIKE A REAFFIRMATION THAT THE PARK PROPERTIES THAT WERE IMPROVED THROUGH GRANT FUNDS WILL REMAIN AS RECREATION PROPERTIES IN PERPETUITY AND FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
THAT'S WHAT THE RESOLUTIONS ARE FOR FOR EACH OF THE NEXT TWO ITEMS. THE FIRST ONE IS FOR THE ACCESSIBLE GATEWAY PATHWAY INTO THE HISTORICAL VILLAGE AND THE RESTROOM BUILDING.
THAT WAS A LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND PROGRAM TO THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE.
THERE IS A RESOLUTION ATTACHED.
I DON'T THINK YOU NEED TO ACTUALLY READ THE ENTIRE RESOLUTION.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED WOULD BE APPROPRIATE.
THEN THE NEXT ITEM IS THE SAME TYPE OF RESOLUTION OF DECLARATION AND NOTICE FOR THE MICHIGAN NATURAL RESOURCES TRUST FUND, CENTRAL MERIDIAN REGIONAL TRAIL CONNECTOR.
THAT'S THE SAME RESOLUTION, DIFFERENT PROJECT.
BUT IT REALLY IS JUST RECONFIRMING THAT A COMMUNITY WILL MAINTAIN THESE PROPERTIES AND KEEP THEM OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FOR PURPOSES AND PERPETUITY.
>> GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, LUANN. I APPRECIATE THAT.
WE DO NEED TO ADOPT THIS RESOLUTION WITH A VOICE VOTE, CORRECT? ONE SECOND, COMMISSIONER MCDONALD JUST SAID, "SO WE WILL END THERE." THEN BEFORE WE DO THAT, DO YOU NEED ME TO READ IT OR CAN ANY COMMISSIONER READ IT?
>> I BELIEVE ANY COMMISSIONER CAN READ THAT.
REALLY, I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO READ THE ENTIRE LEGAL [OVERLAPPING] IN ALL OF THAT, BUT JUST MAYBE THEY'RE ANNOUNCED HERE, THEREFORE, THEIR RESULTS.
>> EVERYTHING AFTER NOW, THEREFORE, CORRECT?
>> COMMISSIONER MCDONALD? WE CAN'T HEAR YOU, MIKE.
I THINK YOU MIGHT BE ON MUTE. THANK YOU.
>> THAT CAME UP SOMEWHERE, ANYWAY.
FOR SOMEONE THAT WAS DOING THIS FOR NOT 40 YEARS, BUT ANYWAY, AWHILE, I WANTED TO ASK YOU ELUDED OUR ATTORNEY BET THIS TRANSMITTAL MEMO.
DID HE OR SHE BET THE LANGUAGE IN THE ACTUAL DOCUMENT ITSELF BECAUSE IT SEEMED TO ME THAT I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, SO I WANTED TO SEE IF OUR ATTORNEY LOOKED AT IT?
>> YES. OUR ATTORNEY LOOKED AT THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT IN THE BEGINNING WHEN WE ACCEPTED THE GRANT.
THIS SEEMS TO BE THE SAME LANGUAGE AS WAS ALREADY PRE-APPROVED.
THIS PARTICULAR DOCUMENT I DID NOT SEND TO THE ATTORNEY, AND I CERTAINLY CAN DO THAT IF YOU DESIRE.
>> [OVERLAPPING] REINFORCES EARLIER, WE SIGNED SOMETHING.
BUT I THINK NOW THAT THE PROJECT IS OVER, THEY JUST WANT THAT EXTRA JUST SO YOU REMEMBER THIS.
>> I THINK I ASKED THAT TO SEGWAY INTO.
WELL, A MAJOR PHILOSOPHICAL POINT IS, WHY DOESN'T IT SAY IN PERPETUITY, PERIOD? BUT WE JUST SAY IT A LOT SIMPLER, BUT THAT WAS INCLUDED.
>> THIS LANGUAGE CAME DIRECTLY FROM THE DNR.
>> CRAP. ANYWAY, [LAUGHTER] MUST BE FROM SHARON EDGAR.
AS YOU REMARKED [INAUDIBLE] THE ROOM, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT IT MEANS.
IT DOESN'T MEAN IF WHAT MAYBE BLAH, IT MEANS IN PERPETUITY [OVERLAPPING] THAT'S IT. WE'RE ALL SET.
>> OKAY. WOULD YOU FEEL MORE UNCOMFORTABLE IF THE ATTORNEY TOOK A LOOK AT BOTH THESE RESOLUTIONS AND THEN ADJUSTED THE LANGUAGE APPROPRIATELY?
>> EVEN THOUGH THIS MAY HAVE COME WITH THE CONTRACT, IF THE DNR PERMITS IT, SERIOUSLY, IT SOUNDS REALLY, WELL, NOT PETTY.
I'D RATHER NOT SEND IT TO THE ATTORNEY THAT WE'VE MONEY AND TIME.
I THINK LUANN WOULD KNOW WHERE YOU WOULD PUT THE TWO WORDS AND PERPETUITY.
>> ARE YOU ASKING FOR THOSE TWO WORDS TO BE PUT IN THIS?
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MCDONALD.
LUANN. I JUST WANT TO REMIND FOLKS THAT WE ARE BEING TELEVISED TONIGHT.
>> GET LUANN. I THINK SHE'LL PICK IT UP HERE IN A SEC.
[00:20:02]
SHE MIGHT BE PRINTING SOMETHING.>> LUANN, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YOU'RE ON MUTE.
>> YEAH. I WAS GOING TO SAY IF WE DON'T TAKE ACTION ON THIS THIS EVENING, AND WHAT WE COULD DO IS TAKE ACTION.
IF YOU'D LIKE THIS TO GO TO [OVERLAPPING]
>> NO, I'M NOT. [LAUGHTER] I KEEP CLOSING MY DOOR AND BECAUSE MIKE IS OUT THERE AND WE'RE HEARING VIBRATION BACK AND FORTH.
IF COMMISSIONER MCDONALD AND IT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE PARK COMMISSION FOR THIS TO GO TO THE ATTORNEY, WE CERTAINLY CAN DO THAT, AND THEN WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT IT AGAIN NEXT MONTH.
>> LUANN, JUST SO YOU KNOW, THAT WHEN YOU STEPPED AWAY, COMMISSIONER MCDONALD CLARIFIED HIS REQUEST, WHICH IS THAT THE TWO WORDS IN PERPETUITY BE ADDED TO THE MOTION OR THE TWO RESOLUTIONS.
IF THAT'S POSSIBLE ON BOTH OF THESE, I DON'T THINK IT NEEDS TO GO TO THE ATTORNEY, AND THEN WE CAN JUST TAKE ACTION ON THIS DURING THE NEXT MEETING.
>> [OVERLAPPING] SOUNDS GOOD. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. THAT TAKES CARE OF ACTION ITEMS A AND B.
WE'LL ADD THOSE TO THE AGENDA THE NEXT MEETING, AND WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO [OVERLAPPING]
>> WAIT, I THINK WE CAN VOTE ON THESE TODAY.
>> YES. THEY'RE ON FOR ACTION AND LET'S TAKE ONE AT A TIME.
>> SORRY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? SORRY. COMMISSIONER FARRIS.
>> DO WE NEED TO READ THE MOTION, ANY PART OF IT OR CAN WE JUST VOTE?
>> I THINK SINCE WE ARE TELEVISED AND THERE'S PEOPLE OUT AND CAN'T READ THIS RIGHT NOW, I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD TO JUST READ THE, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED PORTION OF [OVERLAPPING]
>> JUST CHECKING. THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
>> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER FARRIS WASN'T SURE WITH CHANGING THE LANGUAGE, IF WE SHOULD READ IT OR NOT.
THANK YOU FOR SEEKING THAT CLARIFICATION.
>> ACTUALLY, CAN I MAKE ONE CLARIFICATION? YOU SHOULD READ ALL OF THE RESOLUTIONS AND YOU ARE REQUIRED BY THE VIRTUAL MEETINGS ADDENDUM TO THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT TO HAVE ROLL CALL VOTE AS OPPOSED TO VOICE VOTE.
>> THANK YOU. WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO READ THE RESOLUTION OF DECLARATION NOTICE FOR THE GATEWAY PATH AND RESTROOM GRANT IN ITS ENTIRETY?
>> I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO READ.
WE COULD JUST SAY WHAT'S THE ATTACHED LEGAL DESCRIPTION BECAUSE TO READ THAT ENTIRE LEGAL DESCRIPTION WOULD [OVERLAPPING]
>> I'M SORRY. I THOUGHT WHEN HE JUST STATED THAT WE HAD TO READ THE ENTIRE [OVERLAPPING]
>> RESOLUTION, I'M NOT SURE WHETHER YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO READ THE LEGAL DESCRIPTION OR NOT, BUT THAT DOES NOT SOUND PRACTICAL IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM.
I WOULD SAY THE LEGAL DESCRIPTION AS OUTLINED PER WHOEVER DID THE SURVEY OR SOMETHING TO THAT.
WHO WOULD LIKE TO READ THE FIRST ACTION ITEM, THE COMMUNITY OR THE RESOLUTION OF DECLARATION AND NOTICE FROM THE SECTION, NOW, THEREFORE?
>> MIKE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO THAT?
>> CHAIRMAN LICK, WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO PROCEED?
>> YES, PLEASE, COMMISSIONER FARRIS.
>> NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE PARK COMMISSION OF THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF MERIDIAN, INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN, HEREBY DECLARES THAT THE PORTION OF THE PROPERTY IDENTIFIED AS THE PROJECT AREA IN HERE, UNDEFINED IN THIS LEGAL DESCRIPTION, AND SHALL BE HELD, TRANSFERRED, SOLD, CONVEYED, LEASED, OCCUPIED, AND USED SUBJECT TO THE OBLIGATION HERE AND AFTER, SET FORTH ALL OF WHICH SHALL RUN WITH THE LAND IN PERPETUITY.
THE LANDS INCLUDED IN THIS DEED DEVELOPED BY MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP WITH FUNDING ASSISTANCE FROM THE LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND PURSUANT TO THE PROJECT AGREEMENT, LW 16-0046, 26-01768, ACCESSIBLE GATEWAY, BRIDGE, AND RESTROOM DEVELOPMENT BETWEEN THE MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, EXECUTED ON FEBRUARY 28TH, 2018.
THE PROJECT AGREEMENT DESCRIBES CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS TO ENSURE THE LONG-TERM CONSERVATION OF THE PROPERTY AND ITS USE FOR PUBLIC OUTDOOR RECREATION.
MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP IS PLACING THIS NOTICE ON RECORD AS CONFIRMATION OF ITS OBLIGATIONS AS SET FORTH IN THE PROJECT AGREEMENT, INCLUDING THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE CONSENT OF THE MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND
[00:25:01]
THE MICHIGAN NATURAL RESOURCES TRUST FUND BOARD OF TRUSTEES IS REQUIRED PRIOR TO THE CONVEYANCE OF ANY RIGHTS OR INTEREST IN THE PROPERTY TO ANOTHER ENTITY OR FOR THE USE OF THE PROPERTY FOR PURPOSES OTHER THAN CONSERVATION OR PUBLIC OUTDOOR RECREATION.>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER FARRIS.
NOW WE'LL MOVE TO A ROLL CALL VOTE.
>> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER FARRIS?
>> HE GIVES ME THE THUMBS UP, BUT LET ME GO CHECK HIS MONITORS.
>> THIS WILL BE A VERY ENTERTAINING AUDIO VISUAL.
>> YES, I COMPLETELY AGREE, COMMISSIONER FARRIS.
>> WELL, I'LL WATCH IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN WITH A GLASS OF WINE.
>> EXACTLY. [LAUGHTER] COMMISSIONER MCDONALD?
>> WE HAVE THREE YEAS AND ZERO NAYS.
THE RESOLUTION PASSES AND IS ADOPTED.
WE'RE NOW GOING TO MOVE. OH, YES.
>> CHAIR LICK, WE DO NEED TO GO BACK TO THE START.
SINCE WE ARE ON ZOOM, WE NEED TO DO A ROLL CALL OF WHO'S IN ATTENDANCE TODAY, AND YOU HAVE TO STATE IF YOU'RE IN OKEMOS OR IN HASLETT, ATTENDING OVER ZOOM FROM WHERE YOU'RE AT.
I FORGOT THAT NOW THAT WE'RE IN ZOOM AND NOT IN-PERSON.
>> THAT'S OKAY. YOU KNOW WHAT? THESE PAST 18 MONTHS HAVE PRESENTED LOTS OF NEW CHANGES, AND WE'VE BEEN MEETING OUTDOORS IN MASKS, SO THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT WE'VE DONE ZOOM IN QUITE A WHILE, SO NO PROBLEM AT ALL.
I FORGOT AS WELL. THANK YOU, LUANN.
I, COMMISSIONER AMANDA LICK, I AM IN OKEMOS AND ATTENDING VIA ZOOM.
>> I'M MARK STEPHENS COMMISSIONER.
I AM HERE IN HASLETT, ATTENDING VIA ZOOM.
>> I AM MARY NARDO FARRIS, A COMMISSIONER ATTENDING VIA ZOOM AND IN HASLETT.
I'M IN OKEMOS, ATTENDING VIA ZOOM.
>> ACTUALLY, MY END, OUR BUILDING IS IN HASLETT, SO HE'S ATTENDING FROM HASLETT.
>> PERFECT. WE NEED TO GO BACK AND REDO THE RESOLUTION VOTE OR NO?
>> THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO ACTION ITEM B,
[6.b. Resolution of Declaration and Notice – MNRTF Central Meridian Trail Connector]
THE RESOLUTION OF DECLARATION AND NOTICE FOR THE CENTRAL MERIDIAN TRAIL CONNECTOR.WHO WOULD LIKE TO READ THAT RESOLUTION? STARTING WITH, NOW, THEREFORE. COMMISSIONER STEPHENS?
>> YEAH, I CAN DO THAT. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE PARK COMMISSION OF THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF MERIDIAN, INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN, HEREBY DECLARES THAT THE PORTION OF THE PROPERTY IDENTIFIED AS THE PROJECT AREA IS AND SHALL BE HELD, TRANSFERRED, SOLD, CONVEYED, LEASED, OCCUPIED, AND USED SUBJECT TO THE OBLIGATION HERE AND AFTER SET FORTH, ALL OF WHICH SHALL RUN WITH THE LAND IN PERPETUITY, LANDS INCLUDED IN THIS DEED DEVELOPED BY MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP WITH THE FUNDING ASSISTANCE FROM THE MICHIGAN NATURAL RESOURCES TRUST FUND PURSUANT TO THE PROJECT AGREEMENT, TF 116-0087, CENTRAL PARK REGIONAL PATHWAY AND FISHING DOCK DEVELOPMENT BETWEEN THE MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP, EXECUTED ON NOVEMBER 24TH, 2017.
THE PROJECT AGREEMENT DESCRIBES CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS TO ENSURE THE LONG-TERM CONSERVATION OF THE PROPERTY AND ITS USE FOR PUBLIC OUTDOOR RECREATION.
MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP IS PLACING THIS NOTICE ON RECORD AND AS CONFIRMATION OF ITS OBLIGATIONS AS SET FORTH IN THE PROJECT AGREEMENT, INCLUDING THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE CONSENT OF THE MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND THE MICHIGAN NATURAL RESOURCES TRUST FUND BOARD OF TRUSTEES AS REQUIRED PRIOR TO THE CONVEYANCE OF ANY RIGHTS OR INTEREST IN THE PROPERTY TO ANOTHER ENTITY FOR THE USE OF THE PROPERTY FOR PURPOSES OTHER THAN CONSERVATION OR PUBLIC OUTDOOR RECREATION.
[00:30:02]
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER STEPHENS.
JUST TWO MINOR THINGS, AS YOU'RE READING, THE PROJECT AGREEMENT IS T AS IN TOM, F AS IN FRANK, DASH 16, DASH 0087, AND THEN IT WAS EXECUTED ON NOVEMBER 22ND, NOT THE 24TH AS DETAILED IN THE RESOLUTION.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THOSE TWO MINOR CHANGES.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE ROLL CALL VOTE. COMMISSIONER STEPHENS?
>> WE HAVE THREE YAY'S AND ZERO NAE'S, THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED AND PLACED ON FILE.
>> WHO SUPPORTED COMMISSIONER STEVENS? [INAUDIBLE] SUPPORT.
>> WOULDN'T THE VOTE BE FOUR TO NOTHING? AMANDA STILL VOTES.
>> YES. IT WILL BE 4, 0. NO AMY TODAY.
[6.c. Deer Management Program – Addition of Sander Farm]
THIS IS OUR 10TH OR 11TH YEAR, I THINK IT'S OUR 11TH YEAR OF THE DEER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM AND CURRENTLY ON 42 PROPERTIES.NOW THAT WE DO OWN THE SANDER FARM PRESERVED NATURAL AREA, WE'VE HAD A REQUEST TO ADD THAT TO THE LIST FOR THE DEER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.
THEN ALSO IN YOUR INFORMATION WAS A SUMMARY OF LAST YEAR'S HARVEST, WHERE THE VOLUNTEERS HARVESTED 176 DEER FROM 33 PROPERTIES OF THE TOWNSHIP OWNED IN SEVEN PRIVATE PROPERTIES.
ALMOST 2,300 POUNDS OF VENISON WAS DONATED TO LOCAL FOOD BANKS THROUGH THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM AND AN ESTIMATED 3,500 VOLUNTEER HOURS FROM OUR HUNTERS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THIS PROGRAM.
THEN ALSO THERE'S A SECONDARY CALL THAT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT ENGAGES IN, AND THAT'S FROM JANUARY 1, AND WE'RE HOPING TO BE DONE BY FIRST WEEK OF MARCH FOR THIS COMING YEAR.
BUT AS YOU GO THROUGH YOUR PAGES, I HAVE A MAP HERE OF THE OUTLINE OF THE PROPERTY FOR THE SANDER FARM PRESERVED NATURAL AREA ON DOLBY ROAD, BUT THEN AN IMPORTANT PIECE IS THE WHOLE DEER MANAGEMENT MAP.
AS WE LOOK AT AREAS AROUND THERE AND NEIGHBORHOODS AROUND THERE, THERE'S NO HUNTING PROPERTY THAT'S NEAR THE SANDER FARM PRESERVE.
THIS PROPERTY WOULD HELP OUT BRIARWOOD SUBDIVISION, TACOMA HILLS SUBDIVISION, FOREST HILLS SUBDIVISION, ALL THREE OF THOSE SITES FOR SURE, BY ADDING THIS PROPERTY TO THE PROGRAM.
THERE IS A HEAT MAP ALSO INVOLVED, AND THESE WERE THE CURRENT DEER COLLISIONS IN 2020.
THAT WAS ALSO INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKET.
IT IS A HOT AREA DOWN THROUGH THAT SECTION.
THIS ACTUALLY DOES WORK INTO AN AREA RIGHT IN HERE, BELOW THIS AREA HERE, AND THEN ALSO IT'S DARKER.
CAN YOU SEE ALL THAT IN HERE? I GUESS I COULD'VE SHARED MY SCREEN.
BUT ANYWAY, THAT IS THE REQUEST, IS TO ADD THAT PROPERTY INTO THE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM FOR 2021.
>> LUANN, CAN I ASK A QUESTION? WHO MADE THE REQUEST FOR THE PROPERTY TO BE ADDED?
>> WE HAD A COUPLE OF PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY CONTACT US.
I DON'T HAVE THEIR NAMES, BUT THEY LIVE IN TACOMA HILLS.
>> YOU KNOW THAT WE DO ON THE SANDER FARM PRESERVE NATURAL AREA, WHICH IS ALMOST 32 ACRES OF PROPERTY IN THE CENTRAL PORTION OF OKEMOS THAT THERE'S A POSSIBILITY OF ADDING IT INTO THE PROGRAM SO I SAID I WOULD BRING THIS TO THE PARK COMMISSION FOR CONSIDERATION.
>> THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT TO US, I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
I AM WONDERING IF COMMISSIONER STEVENS AND MCDONALD COULD SHED SOME LIGHT.
I DO NOT RECALL HAVING APPROVED AN ADDITIONAL PROPERTY BEING ADDED IN MY TENURE ON THE PARK COMMISSION, SO I'M NOT SURE WHAT THAT TYPICAL PROCESS IS.
IF THERE'S COMMUNITY INPUT, I KNOW THAT SOMETIMES THERE'S SOME QUESTIONS AROUND THIS.
[00:35:04]
COULD YOU PLEASE SHED SOME LIGHT ON THAT, COMMISSIONER STEVENS, IF YOU DON'T MIND?>> YEAH. IN MY TENURE, WE BASICALLY HAVE HAD RECOMMENDATIONS FROM LUANN, COME TO THE COMMUNITY AND WE'VE JUST APPROVE THEM BASICALLY.
>> YEAH. MY QUESTION ON THIS ONE IS, WAS THERE ANY LANGUAGE IN THE SANDER FARM AGREEMENT THAT WE COULDN'T DO THAT WITH THEIR FARM? THAT'S THE ONLY QUESTION I WOULD HAVE ON THIS.
I DON'T SEE ANY PROBLEMS WITH HAVING IT ADDED TO OUR PROGRAM.
>> NO. THERE WERE NO RESTRICTIONS WITH REGARDS TO THIS ACTIVITY ON THE PROPERTY.
>> OKAY. I DIDN'T KNOW IF THERE WERE FAMILY.
>> ITERATIONS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. OKAY.
>> YEAH. THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
THE ONLY PROPERTY I REMEMBER ADDED DURING MY TENURE WAS, I CAN'T THINK OF THE NAME LAND, SO I'LL JUST CALL IT THE TOM SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT PROPERTY [LAUGHTER] AND THAT WAS ADDED, WAS THAT PRIOR TO YOUR TENURE, COMMISSIONER LICK?
>> I BELIEVE SO. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THAT WAS ONE OF THE MORE FORCEFUL MEETINGS I'VE EVER BEEN TO AND ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT SPOKE WERE STRONGLY IN FAVOR OF THE ADDITION OF THAT PROPERTY.
TO CLARIFY A COUPLE OF THINGS FOR ME, HAVE WE CHOSEN HOW MANY HUNTERS? FIRST OF ALL, THERE WILL EVER BE TWO HUNTERS THERE OR FOUR OR THREE?
>> I HAVEN'T SEEN. [OVERLAPPING]
>> WHERE WILL WE TELL THEM TO PARK?
>> WELL, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION BECAUSE WE DO ASSIGN VOLUNTEERS FOR THE CALL TO A SITE.
THEY'RE ACTUALLY GIVEN AN AREA AND ALMOST IDENTIFIED A TREE THAT THEY HAVE TO GO TO.
WE KNOW WHERE THEY'RE AT AND WE IDENTIFY A PLACE WHERE THEY PARK.
THEN THEY ALSO PUT A PLACARD IN THEIR FRONT DASH SO ANYONE WHO WALKS UP AND SEES THAT CAR, THEY'LL SEE THE BIG, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S ORANGE THIS YEAR OR HOT PINK, BUT IN THEIR DASH.
THEY HAVE TO SIGN IN EVERY TIME THEY'RE THERE, THEY SIGN OUT EVERY TIME THEY'RE THERE.
>> MY QUESTION IS, EMMA, HAS THAT BEEN TENTATIVELY DECIDED YET?
>> THERE IS A MEETING TONIGHT, BUT WE ARE NOT ASSIGNING PEOPLE THERE UNTIL AFTER TONIGHT AND YOUR ACTION.
BUT NORMALLY [OVERLAPPING] WE WOULD ASSIGN TWO PEOPLE [OVERLAPPING] TO THAT SITE.
PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT THEY'RE NOT OUT THERE EVERY SINGLE DAY.
SOMEONE MIGHT HUNT [OVERLAPPING] A TUESDAY OR THURSDAY AND SOMEBODY ELSE MIGHT DO, BECAUSE THEY WORK DURING THE WEEK, A SATURDAY AND A SUNDAY.
IT'S NORMALLY IN THE MORNING HOURS OR LATER IN THE EVENING, THEY'RE OFF THE BEATEN PATH BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO BE WHERE PEOPLE ARE.
THERE ARE SOME TREED AREAS AND THAT SITE AND THAT IS WHERE THEY WOULD BE PLACED.
>> WHEN WE MOVE AND APPROVE THE RESOLUTION, I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE VOTE WILL BE, BUT I THINK ONCE ITS RESOLUTION'S MADE, TO BE CAREFUL FOR OUR PURPOSES, I WOULD ASK THAT YOU JUST HAVE SOME NOTE IN THERE THAT THAT'S CONTINGENT ON THE SELECTION OF TWO HUNTERS AND ADEQUATE PARKING FOR THEM.
>> YEAH. THAT'S A PROTOCOL THAT WE HAVE ON ALL OF OUR PROPERTIES.
>> THEN ALSO EACH OF THE SITES HAVE SIGNAGE ATTACHED, ANYBODY THAT COMES UP.
WE ALSO SEND LETTERS DIRECTLY TO EVERY PROPERTY ADJACENT TO ALL THE PROPERTIES THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THE PROGRAM.
THERE'S A LOT OF PUBLIC NOTICE BEFOREHAND WITH A LETTER, ON-SITE DURING THE ENTIRE PROGRAM WITH SIGNAGE AND POSTS AND TREES AND SUCH, AND THEN THE HUNTERS ARE RESPONSIBLE.
THEY HAVE TO BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHEN THEY'RE THERE AND WHEN THEY'RE NOT THERE AND WE GPS THEIR LOCATION SO WE KNOW WHERE THEY'RE HUNTING FROM.
NO ONE'S WALKING AROUND WITH THEIR BOW AND ARROW LOOKING.
THEY'RE IN A TREE, THEY'RE SHOOTING STRAIGHT DOWN, NORMALLY EARLY MORNING AND EARLY EVENING TIMES THAT THEY'RE THERE.
LIKE I SAID, THIS IS OUR 10TH OR 11TH YEAR OF THIS PROGRAM.
ACTUALLY, THERE WAS A COMMUNITY SURVEY THAT THE TOWNSHIP BOARD RECENTLY CONDUCTED AND THE RESULTS I BELIEVE I SENT YOU EARLIER, BUT 80 PERCENT OF THE RESIDENTS WERE IN STRONG FAVOR OF CONTINUING THE PROGRAM AND MULTIPLE COMMENTS WERE INCLUDED IN THAT.
THERE IS STRONG PUBLIC SUPPORT TO CONTINUE WITH THIS PROGRAM.
SINCE OKEMOS IS A LITTLE MORE URBAN AREAS,
[00:40:01]
IT IS IMPORTANT WHEN WE CAN FIND LARGE TRACKS OF LAND TO TRY TO INCLUDE THAT IN THE PROGRAM AND THE SANDER FARM PRESERVE NATURALLY IT DOES REALLY HIT THE MARK FOR US ON THAT.THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MCDONALD FOR YOUR GREAT QUESTIONS.
COMMISSIONER FARRIS. OH, YOU'RE ON MUTE.
>> I HAD A COUPLE OF QUICK QUESTIONS.
I WAS WONDERING THERE WAS A NUMBER SITED OF 300 FOR THIS YEAR, WHICH IS ABOUT TWICE WHAT IT HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY.
I WAS JUST WONDERING WHERE THE NUMBER CAME FROM.
>> OUR 300 WAS THE GOAL THAT WAS SET TO US BY ADMINISTRATION LAST YEAR THAT THEY'D LIKE TO SEE.
OUR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM HAD BASICALLY BEEN GETTING 80-100.
TO GET TO 300, WE WERE LIKE REALLY? OUR VOLUNTEERS WERE GREAT LAST YEAR, AND THE TOWNSHIP BOARD DEDICATED ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM, SO WE WERE ABLE TO DO SOME THINGS TO HELP EASE THE BURDEN FOR THE HUNTERS WITH HAVING A COOLER.
WE'RE TRANSPORTING THE DEER TO THE PROCESSOR.
WE'RE ACTUALLY THEN TRANSPORTING IT TO THE FOOD BANKS.
WE'RE DOING A LOT OF THE WORK THAT MAYBE THE HUNTERS WERE DOING IN PREVIOUS YEARS.
THEN ALSO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT STEPPED UP, AND THEY TOOK ANOTHER 150, SO WE HAD 176 FROM THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM, AND 150 WITH THE POLICE TO GET US TO THE 379 NUMBERS.
WE'RE AT 326 IS WHAT WERE WE AT LAST YEAR.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THANKS FOR THE CLARIFICATION CAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW IF THERE WAS [INAUDIBLE].
>> WE EXCEEDED THE GOAL OF 300.
I'M GUESSING WE'RE GOING TO BE AT THAT SAME NUMBER AGAIN THIS YEAR.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION LUANN.
ANY ANOTHER QUESTION FROM A WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT STANDPOINT? DO WE KNOW WHAT THE POPULATION IS WITHIN THE TOWNSHIP?
>> WE HAVE NOT DONE A FLY OVER TO GET AN EXACT COUNT, BUT OUR GOAL IS NOT TO, BECAUSE WE'VE HAD PEOPLE SEND US PICTURES, AND IT'S LIKE, "THERE'S STILL DEER.
THERE'S A LOT OF DEER IN MY YARD." WE STILL NEED TO DO MORE.
I JUST REALLY WANT EVERYONE TO REMEMBER, WE'RE NOT TRYING TO ERADICATE THE DEER POPULATION IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THAT IS NOT THE GOAL. THE GOAL IS TO HELP MANAGE THE NUMBERS.
THESE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING NOW ARE JUST HELPING TO KEEP THINGS HEALTHY.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE WENT THROUGH THE CWD, CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE, A FEW YEARS BACK.
IF WE HADN'T BEEN ALREADY MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS PROGRAM, IT COULD HAVE ENDED UP A WHOLE LOT WORSE.
REALLY, THIS IS PART OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT.
DO WE HAVE EXACT NUMBERS? NO. BUT WE KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF DEER HERE JUST FROM THE CAR DEER ACCIDENTS AND THE RESIDENT COMMENTS AND CONCERNS THAT THEY ADDRESSED TO US ON A REGULAR BASIS.
EVEN IN OUR LAND PRESERVES WHO SET UP AN EXCLOSURE, SO WE COULD SEE WHAT THE DEER BROWSING WAS DOING IN OUR PARKS AND LAND RESERVES VERSUS WHAT WAS INSIDE, AND HOW IT WAS GROWING, AND WHAT WAS GOING ON AROUND IT.
WE ALSO HAVE A STUDENT AT MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY, A PHD STUDENT, WHO HAVE BEEN TRACKING THE DEER TO LEARN THEIR BEHAVIORS A LITTLE MORE.
THAT'S BEEN AN ONGOING STUDY FOR A FEW YEARS NOW. IT'S VERY INTERESTING.
MOST DEER END UP STAYING WITHIN A MILE OF WHERE THEY'RE AT.
WHEN THEIR OFFSPRING COME, THEY STAY, SO IT'S LIKE THEY'RE NOT TRAVELING FAR, THEY ARE STAYING PRETTY CLOSE TO WHEREVER WE'RE SEEING THEM.
>> AS WE MOVE FORWARD, I'M JUST LOOKING AT HOW WE DO IT IN A SCIENTIFIC MANNER, SO THAT AS WE MANAGE THE WILDLIFE WITHIN THIS URBAN POPULATION, THAT WE HAVE SOME GOOD INFORMATION AS TO WHY WE'RE DOING IT, WHERE THE NUMBERS ARE COMING FROM.
BECAUSE WHEN I LOOK AT THE NUMBERS OF DEER HARVESTED AND REPORTED DEER COLLISIONS, I'M NOT SEEING A CORRELATION THERE BETWEEN HOW MANY WE HARVEST AND REDUCTION IN THE COLLISIONS, SO IT MAYBE THE WAY THE DATA IS PRESENTED, IT MAYBE THAT I'M MISSING SOMETHING, IF THERE'S SOMETHING MISSING ON THE TIMING OF WHEN THAT WAS DONE.
BUT I GUESS I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT AS WE LOOK AT THIS, BECAUSE I DO UNDERSTAND WHEN PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT THEY HAVE NUISANCE ANIMALS IN THEIR YARDS, OR BUGS, OR WHATEVER THAT THAT IS A PASSIONATE AND PRIMARY CONCERN.
I JUST THINK AS A COMMISSION, IT BE A GOOD IDEA THAT WE MOVE FORWARD IN MANAGEMENT IN A SCIENTIFIC WAY AND NOT JUST BASED ON GENERAL COMPLAINTS.
>> RIGHT. I ALSO DO WANT TO ADD THAT WE WORK HAND IN HAND WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE THE EXPERT FOR DEER AND MOST THAT LIVE HERE IN THE COMMUNITY, AND WAS PART OF OUR PROGRAM.
WE FOLLOW ALL THE DNR RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR HUNTING PROGRAM, ALL OF OUR PERMITS.
WE HAVE TO SUBMIT AN ENTIRE PLAN TO THEM FOR APPROVAL, SO THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT IS DONE HAPHAZARDLY OR WITHOUT GUIDANCE FROM THE DNR.
[00:45:07]
ANYWAY, IT HAS BEEN A GREAT PROGRAM SO FAR.WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE OUTDOOR RECREATION IN OUR COMMUNITY.
IT'S BEEN HIGHLY MANAGED AND KEEPING EVERYONE ACCOUNTABLE.
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO FEED THE HUNGRY THROUGH THE PROGRAM SO THAT'S BEEN POSITIVE AND HAVE NEW PARTNERS.
WE'VE HAD A SPOKESMAN AGAINST HUNGER WHO HAVE BEEN VERY IMPORTANT PARTNERS IN THIS PROGRAM.
THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD THINGS GOING ON, BUT I DO UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM AS WELL, SO IT MIGHT BE TIME TO TO CONTRACT WITH SOME TYPE OF A FLY OVER TO GET COUNT.
>> THAT'S GREAT. THEN IN ADDITION TO THAT, MOVING FORWARD MAYBE THROUGH THE PARK SYSTEM, WE CAN LOOK AT LINKAGES OR WAYS BETTER TO ACCOMMODATE THE PASSAGES OF THE DEER SOMEHOW.
I KNOW WE DO A GOOD JOB IN OUR DEVELOPMENTS FROM WHAT I CAN SEE, BUT THERE MAY BE ANOTHER WAY THAT WE CAN LOOK AT IT TOWNSHIP-WISE TO SEE OR TRY AND REDUCE SOME OF THOSE COLLISIONS ALSO.
>> YEAH, GREAT COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS COMMISSIONER FARRIS AND LUANN.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR PROVIDING ALL THE DETAILS AS YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR THIS GROUP AS WELL AS THE PEOPLE VIEWING TONIGHT AND THAT WILL CONTINUE TO VIEW.
I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE PROGRAM, LIKE YOU SAID, IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR 11 YEARS.
THERE'S SOME GOOD STUFF THAT'S COME OUT IT.
THERE'S ALWAYS OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE LIKE COMMISSIONER FARRIS HAD MENTIONED, AND YOU WOULD THINK THAT WHEN YOU SEE THE NUMBER OF DEER BEING CALLED THAT, HOPEFULLY, THE AMOUNT OF AUTO ACCIDENTS WOULD GO DOWN OR COLLISIONS WOULD GO DOWN, SO THAT IT IS AN INTERESTING SITUATION THAT WE'RE NOT SEEING THAT CORRELATION.
BUT I'M WONDERING IF THE STUDENT WHO HAS BEEN DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THIS MIGHT HAVE INTEREST IN DOING FURTHER RESEARCH, OR IF WE COULD BE LOOKING AT A DIFFERENT GROUP TO DO THAT AS WELL.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, IF THE DEER MANAGEMENT GROUP IS MEETING TONIGHT, IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING TO ALSO CONSIDER HAVING SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH COMMISSIONER FARRIS OR SOME OTHER IDEAS ON HOW TO WORK TOGETHER TO IMPROVE THE PASSAGES FOR DEER THROUGHOUT THE TOWNSHIP.
MORE TO COME AND MORE TO DO ON THAT, BUT A GREAT CONVERSATION AROUND THIS PROGRAM, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> YEAH. WE JUST WOULD LIKE TO ADD, OH, I'M SORRY.
>> [INAUDIBLE] [LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING] SAY SOMETHING FUNNY.
[LAUGHTER] WHAT IF WE NEED TO START A PEOPLE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM BECAUSE THAT MIGHT BE A REASON WHY THERE'S AN INCREASE OF CAR COLLISION AS WELL.
THE INCREASE OF POPULATION OF PEOPLE.
THERE'S MORE CARS ON THE ROAD, AND THERE'S MORE DEER.
>> EXACTLY YEAH. WE'D HOPED TO GET A BETTER IMPACT ON THE CAR-DEER COLLISION.
STARTING IN 2011, 43 DEER WERE HARVESTED THAT'S A DROP AND THAT'S NOTHING TO WHAT WE HAVE HERE, AND THEN WE WENT TO 90, AND 127, AND 150.
THAT MUST HAVE BEEN RIGHT WHEN CWD HIT AND THERE WAS NO LONGER BAITING ALLOWED.
THEN IN '15, WE ONLY HARVESTED 63, AND THEN 73, AND THEN 80, AND THEN 57, AND 88.
WE REALLY HAVEN'T BEEN HARVESTING PROBABLY ENOUGH DEER TO HAVE A LARGE ENOUGH IMPACT ON THE CAR-DEER ACCIDENTS.
IT WOULD BE VERY INTERESTING TO ME NOW THAT WE'VE HARVESTED 326 LAST YEAR.
IF WE DO SOMETHING AGAIN LIKE THAT THIS YEAR, I THINK WE WILL START TO SEE THE NEEDLE MOVE A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN WHAT WE HAVE IN THE PAST.
>> THIS IS NOT FOR THIS YEAR, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION LUANN, I HAVE GOTTEN FAMILIAR WITH THE PROGRAM FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
I'D JUST BE CURIOUS AS TO WHAT THE END GOAL IS AND HOW THE OBJECTIVES ARE SET OUT OTHER THAN JUST STRAIGHT NUMBERS.
WE HAVE DEALT WITH THIS IN THE PARKS AND RECREATION OF THE DNR FOR YEARS ALSO.
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT MAYBE MOVING INTO THE FUTURE SO THAT WE HAVE A BETTER, MORE SCIENTIFIC APPROACH TO WHERE WE'RE GETTING OUR NUMBERS FROM.
LIKE YOU SAID, MAYBE THERE NEED TO BE MORE. I DON'T KNOW.
BUT RIGHT NOW, IT FEELS LIKE, TO ME, IT'S A NUMBER THAT'S PULLED OUT OF A POCKET.
FROM A SCIENCE STANDPOINT, IT'S JUST NOT FEELING AS SOUND TO ME AS MAYBE OTHER THINGS WE MIGHT DO INTO THE FUTURE.
>> I GUESS I ALSO JUST WANTED, AND I'M SURE YOU ALL KNOW THIS, BUT THIS WAS NOT A PROGRAM THAT WE INITIATED, THAT THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT OR THE PARK COMMISSION INITIATED.
THIS WAS A TOWNSHIP BOARD DIRECTIVE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH US, SO WE ARE IMPLEMENTING AS BEST WE CAN.
I'M HOPING WE CAN MELD THE TWO TOGETHER TO COME TO SOME GREAT RESOLUTION.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? IT DOES PROVIDE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO WORK WITH MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY, AND WE'RE SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE THAT RESOURCE SO CLOSE.
LUANN, I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY CAN MAKE A MELDING OF THE OPPORTUNITIES HAPPEN,
[00:50:03]
IT'S YOU, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. MR. MCDONALD?I'M ALWAYS AMAZED THAT, AMAZED ISN'T THE RIGHT WORD, THAT COMMISSIONER FARRIS HAS LOOKED AT ANY DOCUMENT, COME UP WITH THE EXACT SAME QUESTIONS AND THOUGHTS THAT I THOUGHT SOMEBODY MIGHT.
NUMBER 1, THESE ARE ALL SET IN, IT'S THIS LIGHT THING, BUT IT'S LIGHTHEARTED.
FIRST OF ALL, I DON'T THINK THIS IS REALLY A PART OF THE CWE CONTROL IF YOU WILL.
>> RIGHT. THEN SECOND, THE DNR FORMER CONSERVATION USED TO ESTIMATE YOUR NUMBERS BY COUNTING DEER PELLETS, WHICH WAS THE NAME OF THE TITLE OF THE DEER PELLETS SURVEY.
I LEARNED COLLOQUIALLY THAT FIRST OF ALL, THEY WERE DONE BY INMATES AND THAT AS THEY WALKED THROUGH THE PLOTS, THEY ALSO COUNTED PORCUPINE POOP, END RESULT BEING THEY DON'T DO THE DEER PELLETS SURVEY.
I THINK THAT THE SCIENCE, MARY, IS MORE OF THE ART OF THE EXPERIENCE OF BOTH THE RESIDENTS WHO ARE AGGRIEVED THAT WE HAVE TOO MANY DEER AND THEY'RE EATING THEIR SHRUBS AND THE PLEASURE, THAT'S RIGHT WORD, THE ACCOMPLISHMENT THAT THE HUNTERS ACHIEVED BY PARTICIPATING.
THEN I SHOULDN'T FORGET THE FOOD BANK ISSUE.
I THINK PROBABLY YOU AREN'T GOING TO THE DEER MEETING THAT IS PROBABLY GOING ON RIGHT NOW, SOON.
I WOULD JUST SAY TO MARY THAT, IF CHAD STEWART IS STILL THE GUY, IF CHAD LIVES HERE AND WE THINK OF DOING A FLY OVER OR WE THINK OF PAYING FOR A STUDY OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, OF A CARD HEARSAY, I WOULD JUST HAVE CHAD VET WHAT WE MIGHT THINK OF DOING TO SAVE TIME AND MONEY.
[OVERLAPPING] BY THE WAY, I AM FULLY, FULLY 110 PERCENT BEHIND WHAT WE DO.
FLIES BACK WHAT ANN ARBOR HAS DONE.
I THINK MARK, THAT THEY DID GO THROUGH AND PASS OUT LIKE BIRTH CONTROL PILLS OR STERILIZED GEAR OR SOMETHING.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF THEY DID THAT OR NOT, BUT IT WAS GOING TO BE A STUDY, I THINK.
>> THIS HAS A LOT MORE TO ME AND A LEADS TO B LEADS TO C, WOULD BE B, C, OR D BEING THAT HOWEVER MANY FAMILIES PARTICIPATE IN GETTING THE VENISON.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER MCDONALD.
COMMISSIONER FARRIS, ANY LAST THOUGHTS?
>> NO, I'M GOOD RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU.
MOVING ON TO THIS ACTION ITEM, WHICH IS OFFERING THE COMMISSIONER OF THIS RESOLUTION.
WOULD ANY COMMISSIONER LIKE TO OFFER THIS RESOLUTION AND WOULD SOMEONE LIKE TO SUPPORT IT?
>> I MOVE TO OFFER THE RESOLUTION.
>> OKAY. MIKE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION.
THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER STEPHENS MOVES TO OFFERED, AND COMMISSIONER MCDONALD SUPPORTS.
COMMISSIONER STEPHENS, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ THE RESOLUTION.
>> YEAH, I'M TRYING TO FIND IT RIGHT NOW.
>> ME TOO MARK. I THINK I MISPLACED PAGE 4 OR 5.
DOES IT START WITH JUST PAGE 5 OF 5, LUANN?
>> YOU WANT ME TO READ THE WHOLE THING, OR THE NOW THEREFORE BE A RESOLVE?
>> I THINK THE GUY, GOD OR WHOEVER SAID WE HAVE TO READ THE WHOLE THING.
>> SORRY. WHEREAS THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF MERIDIAN HAS DOCUMENTED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS RELATIVE TO THE ISSUE OF OVERPOPULATION OF WHITE-TAILED DEER, INCLUDING OVERGRAZING OF LANDSCAPE PLANTS, A HIGH NUMBER OF DEER-CAR COLLISIONS, THREATS TO PUBLIC HEALTH, AND THREATS TO ECOLOGICAL HEALTH OF NATURAL AREAS.
WHEREAS A DEER MANAGEMENT PLAN HAS BEEN DEVELOPED FOR THE PURPOSE OF OUTLINING MEASURES, CONDUCTING A HIGHLY MANAGED, SAFE AND HUMANE MANAGED DEER HARVEST ON TOWNSHIP OWNED PROPERTIES.
WHEREAS IT IS RECOGNIZED THAT CONTROLLED HUNTING MAY HELP CONTROL THE OVERPOPULATION OF WHITE-TAILED DEER.
WHEREAS THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF MERIDIAN, HAS AUTHORIZED STAFF TO CONDUCT A MANAGED DEER HARVEST ON TOWNSHIP OWNED PROPERTIES THAT WILL OCCUR SEVEN DAYS PER WEEK DURING THE REGULAR ARCHERY SEASON, OCTOBER 1ST, 2021 THROUGH JANUARY 1ST, 2022.
[00:55:01]
WHEREAS THE MANAGED DEER HARVEST WILL UTILIZE QUALIFIED, COMPETENT, AND EXPERIENCED VOLUNTEER HUNTERS.WHEREAS THE TOWNSHIP OWNED PROPERTIES ARE NOT OPEN TO UNAUTHORIZED HUNTING, AND WHEREAS THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF MERIDIAN WILL WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES TO OPERATE UNDER THE DEER MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR THE PURPOSE OF PURCHASING A LARGE NUMBER OF ANTLER LIST DEER PERMITS.
WHEREAS CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF MERIDIAN'S DEER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM WILL COMPLY WITH ALL EIGHT OF MICHIGAN RULES AND HUNTING REGULATIONS.
WHEREAS THE PUBLIC WILL BE PROPERLY NOTIFIED OF DEER HARVEST THROUGH POST SIGNS ON THE DESIGNATED HUNTING PROPERTIES, TOWNSHIP WEBSITE, POSTINGS, PRESS RELEASES, AND LOCAL NEWSPAPER AND LETTERS TO OWNERS OF PROPERTIES ADJACENT TO THE DESIGNATED HUNTING PROPERTIES.
WHEREAS THE MAJORITY OF VENISON FROM THE HARVESTED DEER WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO THE HUNGRY THROUGH LOCAL FOOD BANKS.
WHEREAS PARKS AND NATURAL AREAS PROVIDE ECOLOGICAL AESTHETIC BEAUTY AND IMPROVE WATER QUALITY, PROTECTION OF GROUNDWATER, PREVENTING FLOODING, IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF THE AIR WE BREATHE, PROVIDE VEGETATIVE BUFFERS TO DEVELOPMENT, AND PRODUCE HABITAT FOR WILDLIFE.
WHEREAS CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF MERIDIAN RECOGNIZES THAT THE BENEFITS DERIVED FROM PARKS AND NATURAL AREAS, AND APPRECIATE BENEFITS OF LOCAL WILDLIFE.
NOW THEREFORE, BE RESOLVED BY THE PARK COMMISSION OF THE CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF MERIDIAN AT THE SANDER FARM PRESERVED NATURAL AREA, BE ADDED TO THE LIST OF APPROVED TOWNSHIP OWNED LAND FOR THE MANAGEMENT DEER HARVEST PROGRAM.
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER STEPHENS.
WE'LL NOW MOVE TO APPROVE OR ADOPT THE RESOLUTION.
>> THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER FARRIS?
>> OKAY. I AM ALSO YES, SO THAT IS FOUR YEAS, ZERO NAYS, THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED.
MOVING ON TO OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM, WHICH IS DISCUSSION ITEMS. LETTER A IS COMMUNITY EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES MASTER PLAN UPDATE.
[7.a. Community Input Opportunities – Master Plan Update]
LUANN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THIS?>> YES. AS YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF UPDATING OUR FIVE-YEAR PARKS AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN.
WHEN I SAY WE, I MEAN, US INCLUDED EVERYONE HERE.
WE ARE LOOKING AT OUR PUBLIC INPUT OPPORTUNITIES AND RECENTLY THE TOWNSHIP BOARD CONDUCTED A COMMUNITY SURVEY THROUGH A COMPANY AND I DID FORWARD THE SURVEY RESULTS TO EVERYONE.
I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF DATA THERE THAT WILL BE VERY HELPFUL TO US.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PARK QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS, AND I WOULD LIKE TO MAYBE SCHEDULE A WORK SESSION FOR ALL OF US TO SIT DOWN, AND THERE WAS A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT I HAD FORWARDED.
I FIND IT ALL VERY INTERESTING AND IT'S VERY TELLING IN MY OPINION, BUT I'D LIKE EVERYONE TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
LIKE I SAID, WE JUST GOT IT LIKE YESTERDAY AND I FORWARDED IT ON TO YOU.
IF IN THE FUTURE WE CAN MAYBE, IF ONCE EVERYBODY HAD A CHANCE TO DIGEST IT ON THE TOWNSHIP BOARD.
THIS HASN'T EVEN BEEN FORMALLY PRESENTED YET TO THE TOWNSHIP BOARD IT WILL BE NEXT TUESDAY.
IF YOU WANT TO TUNE INTO HOME TV, I'M NOT SURE IF THEY'RE DOING AN IN-PERSON MEETING ON TUESDAY OR BY ZOOM.
BUT YOU'LL WANT TO TUNE IN AND THE COMPANY WILL BE MAKING A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION.
I DID FORWARD THAT POWERPOINT TO YOU AS WELL.
BUT I JUST THINK AS WE LOOK AT ALL OF OUR PUBLIC INPUT OPPORTUNITIES, THIS SURVEY COULD SERVE AS ONE OF THOSE ITEMS FOR PUBLIC INPUT.
WE MAY STILL WANT TO PUT SOMETHING OUT TO MAYBE GATHER A MORE BROAD.
I KNOW THIS ONE THAT THEY DID WAS A STATISTICALLY VALID SURVEY, BUT I BELIEVE THERE WERE UNDER 350 RESPONDENTS.
WE HAVE A POPULATION OF 43,000 AND SO MAYBE WE STILL WANT TO DO A SURVEY MONKEY WITH SOME ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS THAT ANYONE COULD JUST GO AND COMPLETE.
THEN ALSO OUR FARMER'S MARKET WE'VE BEEN GETTING LIKE 3-4,000 VISITORS ON A SATURDAY TO THE FARMER'S MARKET.
MAYBE WE TAKE A LOOK AT TRYING TO GO ON AN UPCOMING SATURDAY, PUT TOGETHER A BOOTH WITH PRESENTATION BOARDS AND MAYBE EVEN SOMETHING WITH THE STICKERS THAT PEOPLE CAN PUT ON THE THINGS THAT THEY LIKED THE BEST, THE OLD FASHION WAY.
BUT IT JUST ANOTHER WAY TO REACH OUT TO THE PUBLIC.
THEN ALSO, YESTERDAY WE HAD A MEETING WITH THE UNIVERSAL ACCESS ADVISORY BOARD WHERE WE MET WITH THESE TWO AMAZING MOMS. I'M NOT GOING TO GET INTO THE DETAILS OF IT,
[01:00:02]
BUT THEY ARE ALSO VERY WELL CONNECTED IN THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY.I THINK ARE GOING TO BE GREAT ADVISORS TO US IN THE FUTURE AND OUR MEETING LASTED AN HOUR OR SOMETHING.
BUT THE INFORMATION DERIVED FROM THAT WAS INCREDIBLE.
WE JUST WANT TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND WE WANT EVERYONE TO FEEL WELCOME IN OUR PARKS AND IF WE HAVE TO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND TO DO SOME EXTRA THINGS THAT AREN'T NECESSARILY ADA, BUILDING CODE TYPE THINGS, BUT WE CAN DO THEM THEN THAT WE ALL WANT TO DO THAT.
WE DID GET SOME VALUABLE INFORMATION.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S REALLY ANY MORE THAT WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT HERE TONIGHT OTHER THAN MAYBE THIS WOULD BE THE GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMISSIONERS ,FERRIS AND MCDONALD TO TALK ABOUT THE MEETING YESTERDAY, BUT I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE VERY GOOD DIRECTION TO OBTAIN PUBLIC INPUT.
I'D BE INTERESTED IN KNOWING SOME OTHER IDEAS AND I'M SURE THERE'S OTHER VENUES WE MAY WANT TO CONSIDER.
WE COULD HAVE PUBLIC FORUMS AND PUT OUT INFORMATION AND INVITE PEOPLE TO COME TO TOWN HALL OR THE SERVICE CENTER HERE TO PROVIDE COMMENT.
AS WELL AS LIKE I SAID, THOSE SURVEYMONKEY SURVEYS CAN PROVIDE A FAR-REACHING AND THEY PROVIDE ALL THE RESULTS LIKE RIGHT THERE.
I THINK THE INFORMATION THAT I SENT TOO IS ALSO BROKEN DOWN BY ANSWERS PER AGE DIVISION OR AGE GROUP, PER ZIP CODE, PER ETHNIC BACKGROUND.
ANYWAY, WE HAVE A LOT OF VARIATIONS OF HOW WE CAN EVALUATE THE INFORMATION FROM THE SURVEY.
THERE WAS A LOT OF PARKS STUFF, PARKS AND RECREATION, AND EVENTS AND TRAILS AND IT'S ALL ABOUT US, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE THINGS THAT WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR.
I THINK I'M GOING TO STOP THERE AND I CAN ANSWER ANY MORE QUESTIONS, BUT WE MAY WANT TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE MEETING YESTERDAY.
WE DID NOT HAVE FORMAL NOTES PUT TOGETHER YET FOR YOU SINCE WE JUST MET YESTERDAY, BUT I'LL GET THE OR PUTTING US TOGETHER NOW AND THEN WE'LL SHOOT THOSE OUT TO YOU SO WE CAN HAVE MAYBE A GREATER CONVERSATION AT OUR NEXT MEETING.
>> THANK YOU LUANN. IT SOUNDS LIKE THE SURVEY GETS US TO A GOOD STARTING PLACE, I KNOW WE'VE BEEN GOING BACK AND FORTH ABOUT WHAT DOES THAT SURVEY LOOK LIKE MOVING FORWARD.
I DO THINK IT WARRANTS GETTING TOGETHER AND HAVING A WORKING SESSION.
IF THE ENTIRE COMMISSION DOESN'T WANT TO DO IT, MAYBE JUST THE FOLKS THAT ARE REALLY INTERESTED IN DOING THAT SURVEY WORK, BUT I DEFINITELY THINK WE SHOULD MOVE FORWARD WITH GET DIVING INTO SOME MORE DETAILED POTENTIALLY AND THEN THINKING THROUGH SOME CREATIVE WAYS.
I MEAN, IF WE'RE GOING TO BUILD A PARK SYSTEM THAT'S ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL AND MEETS THE NEEDS FOR ALL OR AT LEAST DO OUR DARN DUST TRYING TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN, THEN WE'VE GOT TO THINK CREATIVELY ABOUT HOW TO OBTAIN THAT INFORMATION.
I THINK THE ACCESSIBILITY WORK GROUP THAT COMMISSIONER FERRIS AND COMMISSIONER MCDONALD PARTICIPATED IN AND THANK YOU TO THE COMMUNITY AND THE FAMILY MEMBERS THAT JOINED.
I THINK THAT'S ONE STOP AND MAYBE THERE'S SOME OTHER THINGS THAT WE CAN DO BETWEEN NOW AND THE END OF THE YEAR OR WHEN WE NEED TO HAVE THAT PLAN UPDATED.
WITH THAT COMMISSIONER FERRIS IT LOOKS LIKE YOU ARE GOING TO SAY SOMETHING I'M SORRY, JUST ONE SECOND I'VE JUST REALIZED.
DO YOU MIND IF WE SAVED THAT WE HAD TALKED ABOUT EARLIER ABOUT HAVING COMMENTS RELATED TO THAT MEETING IN THE COMMISSIONER COMMENTS SECTION?
>> I THINK THAT WOULD BE GOOD JUST BECAUSE I WANT TO HAVE UPDATES PROVIDED, BUT THEN I ALSO WOULD LIKE US TO HAVE A DEEPER CONVERSATION DURING OUR NEXT MEETING WHEN WE HAVE SOME NOTES TO CONTRIBUTE.
I THINK THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE THE BEST THING IF THAT'S OKAY.
>> JUST A CURSORY VIEW OF THE SURVEY RESULTS TO ME, I WAS JUST REALLY PLEASED HOW MANY POSITIVE COMMENT THERE WERE ABOUT THE PARK SYSTEM AND HOW PEOPLE LOVE THAT.
SO THAT WAS REALLY NICE TO SEE.
>> IT WAS [LAUGHTER] I'VE GOT A TEAM OF PEOPLE WHO WORK VERY HARD AND I TAKE A LOT OF PRIDE IN THEIR WORK, SO I'M VERY BLESSED WITH THAT.
>> YES, YOU DO. WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THEM TOO, VERY MUCH THOUGH.
IT'S NICE TO SEE THAT THE COMMUNITY REFLECTED THAT IN THEIR COMMENTS AS WELL.
[Additional Item]
EASEMENT REQUESTS BY CONSUMERS' ENERGY.>> YES. AS YOU KNOW IF ANYBODY HAS BEEN DRIVING ON OKEMOS ROAD DON'T [LAUGHTER].
>> DON'T DO IT, DON'T DO IT, DON'T GO SOUTH.
>> DON'T. ANYWAY, [INAUDIBLE] COUNTY ROAD DEPARTMENT IS DOING SOME WORK IN PREPARATION FOR THE BRIDGE REPLACEMENT OVER THE RED CEDAR RIVER ON OKEMOS ROAD NEAR MOUNT HOPE, RIGHT BETWEEN FERGUSON PARK AND WATCH PARK.
[01:05:04]
SOME OF THE WORK THEY'RE DOING IS LIKE BURYING LINES AND UTILITIES AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS AND IT WAS JUST BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION YESTERDAY THAT CONSUMERS ENERGY WILL BE REQUESTING AN EASEMENT ON THE EAST SIDE OF OKEMOS ROAD, WHICH IS IN THE WATCH PARK SIDE OF OKEMOS ROAD TO EXTEND THE RIGHT OF WAY SO THEY CAN BURY SOME GAS LINES.>> WILL THAT BE THE WEST SIDE?
YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT IT'S THE WEST SIDE.
I REMEMBER DEREK SAID SOMETHING.
HE SAID THE EAST SIDE, SO I WAS JUST REPEATING THAT BUT YOU'RE RIGHT IT IS THE WEST SIDE OF OKEMOS ROAD, EAST SIDE OF THE PARK.
I DO NOT HAVE THE FORMAL EASEMENT LANGUAGE, BUT OF COURSE, THEY KIND OF NEED TO DO THIS.
THE ONE ISSUE THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IS THAT THE PARK SIGN THAT IS CURRENTLY THERE OR ANY FUTURE NEW PARK SIGNS FOR ITS REPLACEMENT THAT'S REALLY WHERE IT NEEDS TO GO.
THAT WILL BE WRITTEN INTO THE DRAFT OF THE EASEMENT IS THAT WE STILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO PLACE OUR PARK SIGNS WITHIN THAT EASEMENT, BUT I'M BRINGING THIS TO YOU FOR DISCUSSION.
I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING FOR US TO ADOPT OR ANYTHING AT THIS POINT AND IF YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, I CAN SEEK OUT ANSWERS AND GET BACK TO YOU.
>> YEAH, COMMISSIONER STEVENS.
>> THEY'RE PUTTING THOSE LINES IN, ARE THEY GOING UNDER THE RIVER OR THEY'RE GOING NEXT TO THE BRIDGE, I DON'T KNOW WILL THAT IMPACT THE UNDER THE ROAD CROSSING THAT THEY'RE GOING TO PLAN ON LATER ON?
>> NO. I'M GUESSING I HAVEN'T SEEN THE PLANS, BUT BY PUTTING THOSE GAS LINES UNDER, I'M SURE IT'S GOING TO HOG THE BRIDGE GOING ACROSS, BUT OUR PATHWAY IS GOING UNDER THAT SO IT SHOULD BE FINE.
IF IT'S NOT, THEY NEED TO WORK IT OUT TO MAKE SURE IT DOES WORK BECAUSE WE WERE PROMISED THAT AS PART OF THIS PROJECT, SO I WILL CHECK ON THAT MARK THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
>> I JUST HAD A QUESTION ON THE PICTURE THAT CAME ALONG IN OUR [INAUDIBLE] PACKETS SEEMED TO BE QUITE A WIDE REQUEST, QUITE A BIT OF LAND, AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S THE ANGLE OF THE PICTURE, I WAS JUST WONDERING HOW THEY DETERMINED HOW MUCH LAND THAT THEY NEEDED.
>> I DO NOT KNOW. IT'S 20 FOOT EASEMENT THEY'RE REQUESTING?
>> YEAH. IT JUST SEEMS WIDE TO ME.
>> IT DOES SEEM A LITTLE WIDE.
MY ONLY THOUGHT [OVERLAPPING] WAS MAYBE JUST SO THEY CAN GET THEIR EQUIPMENT IN THERE AND THE LAND THEY'RE DAMAGING IS LAND UNDER THEIR EASEMENT, BUT WE CAN ASK THAT QUESTION.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU. THE EASEMENT IS FOREVER, CORRECT? BECAUSE THE LINES WILL BE VARIED THERE.
IT'S NOT LIKE THEY'RE JUST ASKING FOR IT DURING THIS CONSTRUCTION PERIOD AND THEN IT GOES AWAY.
>> YEAH. RIGHT. YES, COMMISSIONER FARRIS.
>> THERE WAS THE OTHER QUESTION I HAD.
I REALIZE IT'S A PRIORITY PROJECT SO THIS NEEDS TO GO FORWARD.
OTHER TIMES SOMETIMES WE DO MITIGATION WHEN THEY'RE TAKING LANDS THAT ARE NO LONGER USED FOR PARK PURPOSES, I DIDN'T KNOW IF WE HAVE ANY OPPORTUNITIES.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ACTUALLY TIME ALLOWED RIGHT NOW BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S COMPRESSED, BUT THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING, IN RETROSPECT, I WOULD'VE LIKED TO HAVE PURSUED MAYBE AS SOME KIND OF TRADE OR ADDITION WHERE THEY PURCHASE LAND SOMEWHERE ELSE THAT HELPS US OUT.
>> YEAH. WELL, I CAN BRING THAT UP.
>> I THINK THAT'S A VERY GOOD POINT, COMMISSIONER FARRIS AND SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE EXPLORED ON THE FRONT END IF POSSIBLE.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT IF YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS ON WHAT THAT MIGHT BE, CONNECTING WITH LUANN.
>> I THINK THE POINTS THAT COMMISSIONER FARRIS IS BRINGING UP, THIS IS A 4(F) AND THEY RECOGNIZE THAT FROM THE START AS THEY'RE USING FEDERAL, INDIRECT, IT DOESN'T MATTER, THEY AGREED TO IT.
THEY'RE USING FEDERAL FUNDS TO IMPACT PARK.
IF I RECALL, IT WAS AGREED BY ALL PARTIES AND WE KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO KEEP AN EAGLE EYE ON THIS, THAT AS PART OF THE PROJECT THEY WEREN'T INTENDING TO DO BUT NOW ARE, IS TO MAKE A DEFINITIVE WALKWAY UNDER THE BRIDGE FOR PEDESTRIANS, OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL THEM, FISHERMEN, WHO CAN WALK A CLEAR, IS IT FIVE OR SIX FEET, HEIGHT, AND THEY WEREN'T GOING TO DO THAT.
TO ME, AS THAT WORKED THROUGH BECAUSE THAT WAS ADDED EVEN THOUGH THEY RECOGNIZED IT WAS A 4(F),
[01:10:03]
THAT DEVELOPMENT ANGLE AT SOME COST WAS ADDED TO IT WITHOUT A REQUIREMENT ON THE COUNTY ROAD COMMISSION THAT THEY REPLACE ANY LAND THAT WAS LOST.DOES THAT ADDRESS SOME OF YOUR CONCERNS, COMMISSIONER FARRIS?
>> IT COULD. ARE YOU SAYING, COMMISSIONER MCDONALD, THAT THE COUNTY IS NOW PROVIDING SOMETHING FOR THAT PROPERTY?
>> I THINK THEY'RE PROVIDING WHAT THEY'RE PROVIDING FOR THE OVERALL DISRUPTION TO WATCH IN FERGUSON, AND THIS IS AN ADD-ON. THIS IS A [OVERLAPPING] THING.
>> I WOULD CERTAINLY BE OPEN IF THE DIRECTOR MAISNER TALKED WITH DIRECTOR PERRY TO AT LEAST PUT THAT TOPIC OUT ON THE TABLE.
WELL, THIS IS HYPOTHETICALLY, JIM STOUT IS HERE, WE SURE COULD USE A DOZEN PICNIC TABLES OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
I WOULD AGREE WITHOUT LOOKING INTO IT, I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY ADDITIONAL LAND NEARBY THAT CAN EITHER BE DEDICATED TO US OR BOUGHT, BUT I THINK YOU DO BRING UP A POINT THAT'S WORTH EXPLORING.
WE'VE GOT SOMETHING THEY WANT AND WHY NOT DO SOME THINGS FOR THE PARKS? I SEE MARK NODDING.
I ALSO THINK THAT HAVING THE BRIDGE AND WE HAVE TWO GREAT LA'S HERE, GENE AND MARY.
I'M NOT AN LA, BUT I THINK THAT THIS BRIDGE IS COSTING QUITE A BIT MORE BECAUSE OF THAT ADDITIONAL FOOT OR SO THAT IS BEING DEDICATED, AGAIN, TO THE PEDESTRIANS.
IN OTHER WORDS, THIS BRIDGE WENT UP A FOOT OR SO AND I THINK THAT'S A BIT OF MONEY.
MARK, HAVE YOU GOT ANY THOUGHTS ON THE PROCESS, BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH IT THE WHOLE WAY TOO?
>> NO, MIKE, AGAIN, ANYTIME THERE'S A PROJECT THAT THEY HAVE TO DO, IT'S ALWAYS NICE TO GET SOMETHING OUT OF THEM [LAUGHTER] WHEN YOU CAN.
IT WOULDN'T BE A PROBLEM TO ASK FOR CERTAIN THINGS.
IS THE [INAUDIBLE] PROPERTY THAT THEY'VE TRIED TO SELL A BUNCH OF TIMES, IS THAT AVAILABLE TO US OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT THAT'S ADJACENT TO WHERE THEY'RE DOING THIS WORK? I DON'T KNOW.
>> MARK, IS THIS NOT A GOOD PLACE? IF I RECALL, THIS IS NOT A GOOD PLACE TO FOCUS ANGLERS ON THE RUBBLE AND ETC.
>> I DON'T KAYAK. WOULD THERE BE ANY BENEFIT TO ASKING A LEADING QUESTION ABOUT, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT, THE ROAD COMMISSION, ASSISTING BY PUTTING IN ONE MORE KAYAK/CANOE LANDING IN EITHER OF THOSE PARKS? WOULD THAT BE A GOOD IDEA, MARK?
>> YEAH. THAT PLAN WAS OUT THERE, MIKE, FOR A WHILE OF DOING A SCRAPE OF THAT BANK IN.
>> WONCH PARK FOR A LONG TIME.
IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN DO WITH THAT AND ADDING AN EASIER ACCESS FROM WONCH PARK FOR KAYAKS OR ACCESS TO THE RIVER THAT'S NOT SUCH A CUT BANK INSTEAD OF TALL BANK AND MAYBE IT'S A GRADUAL BANK INSTEAD. I DON'T KNOW.
>> YEAH. SOMETHING TO DEFINITELY CONSIDER, LUANN.
LOOK, IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'VE GOT SOME IDEAS AND SOME OPTIONS THAT PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS AND SEEK SOME CLARIFICATION AND INSIGHT.
I JUST THINK AS GOOD FISCAL STEWARDS AND GOOD LAND STEWARDS, IT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD KEEP IN MIND.
>> THANK YOU FOR FOLLOWING UP ON THAT, LUANN, I APPRECIATE IT.
>> LUANN, YOU WERE JUST MAKING US AWARE OF IT.
THERE'S NO ACTION LIKE YOU SAID, THERE'S NOTHING NEW THAT'S BEEN [OVERLAPPING]
>> THERE'S NO ACTION, LIKE I SAID, THIS JUST CAME TO OUR ATTENTION AND I FORWARDED IT TO YOU IMMEDIATELY SO WE COULD JUST TALK ABOUT IT TODAY.
I WILL GET WITH DIRECTOR PERRY.
I THINK MAYBE THERE'S SOME WIGGLE ROOM FOR US TO GET SOME ADDITIONAL THINGS BECAUSE TO ME THIS IS FROM CONSUMERS, NOT NECESSARILY FROM THE INGHAM COUNTY ROAD DEPARTMENT, SO IT WOULD BE A SEPARATE ENTITY.
>> BUT EVEN IF WE GET SOME TABLES OUT OF COMMISSIONER MCDONALD'S, SOME TABLES, BUT I DO LIKE THE IDEA OF MAYBE THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP US WITH
[01:15:02]
A KAYAK LANDING OR CANOE LEANING OR SOMETHING THERE IT WANTS WOULD BE PERFECT.YOU KNOW WHAT? CONSUMERS, WANT TO BE GOOD NEIGHBORS AND GOOD MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY AS WELL.
SOMETHING LIKE THAT WHERE THEY CAN SEE COMMUNITY GOOD, IT'S NOT ANYTHING FROM A GREEDY STANDPOINT, IT'S, WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAKE THINGS BETTER FOR EVERYONE? YOU GET WHAT YOU WANT AND THEN, OUR COMMUNITY GETS EVEN SOMETHING BETTER, AND SO I SEE THIS AS A WIN-WIN, AND I'LL DO MY BEST TO SEE IF WE CAN WORK OUT.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH LUANN, AND LET US KNOW IF YOU NEED ANY ADDITIONAL SUPPORT IN THAT CONVERSATION-
>> IN EVERYTHING YOU DO, BUT I'M SURE YOU'RE GOING TO DO GREAT.
[8. DIRECTOR’S REPORT]
IS THE DIRECTOR'S REPORT.I'M NOT SURE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING, YOU DIDN'T LIST OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
>> [OVERLAPPING] I JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS, IF I MAY.
>> WEDNESDAY NIGHTS AT MARKETPLACE ON THE GREEN, WE HAVE BEEN HOSTING LIVE MUSIC FROM, IT WAS '69, WE'VE NOW MOVED TO '68 BECAUSE IT'S GETTING DARK EARLIER, BUT ANYWAY, WE'VE GOT A GREAT BAND COMING UP TOMORROW NIGHT, THEY ARE CALLED THE GARAGE SALE BAND.
THEY ARE REALLY A GROUP OF ALCHEMISTS DADS, WHO PLAY ROCK AND ROLL AND OLDIES.
I THINK IT WOULD BE A FUN NIGHT, WE HAVE A FOOD TRUCK OR TWO OUT THERE.
AT THESE PEOPLE CAN BRING THEIR OWN BEVERAGES, JUST NO GLASS CONTAINERS AND A LAUNCH HERE, IT REALLY IS QUITE FUN, IT PIGGYBACKS ON WEDNESDAY FARMERS MARKET.
WE STILL HAVE VENDORS, THEY'RE SELLING THEIR THINGS AND SOME ARTS AND CRAFTS FOLKS THERE AND LIVE MUSIC, AND IT'S REALLY A TON OF FUN AND IT'S FREE, AND IT'S EASY PARKING, FREE PARKING, YOU COULDN'T HAVE A BETTER SCENARIO.
WE HAVE BEEN DOING THIS ALL OF JULY AND AUGUST, AND THEN NOW WE ENDED UP GETTING MORE SPONSORS TO CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THIS MONTH, AND I THINK WE'RE EVEN GOING TO MAYBE TRY TO DO SOMETHING END OCTOBER A LITTLE BIT.
OH, I SHOULD KNOW MY LINE UP HERE FOR THE REST OF THE SUMMER.
ANYWAY, GO TO THE TOWNSHIP WEBSITE AND WE HAVE AN ALL LISTED OUT THERE, BUT IF ANYBODY'S NOT THERE, COME ON OUT AND VISIT US FOR A LITTLE WHILE.
IT'S SO MUCH FUN, PEOPLE GET UP AND DANCE.
IT'S JUST SO NICE TO FINALLY BE ABLE TO ACTIVATE MARKETPLACE ON THE GREEN.
I THINK IT'S REALLY BECOMING THIS GREAT COMMUNITY PLACE AND IT'S, SO FLEXIBLE AND WE CAN DO A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS THERE. I THINK WE'RE AT A GOOD WHILE.
PEOPLE WERE TALKING ABOUT TAKING SOME LINES DOWN IN THIS WINTER BEING ABLE TO PLAY UNDER THE PAVILION AND A COUPLE OF THE WINGS.
THEN WE HAVE SCHEDULED FOR DELIVERY IS AN OFFICIAL ICE RINK, AND THAT WILL BE COMING AT THE END OF OCTOBER FOR INSTALLATION IN NOVEMBER, AND THAT WILL BE IN THE TOTAL EAST WING.
THAT'LL BE FUN AND WE'LL GET LIGHTS ON IT.
WE'RE WORKING WITH DICK'S SPORTING GOODS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE PLENTY ESCAPES AVAILABLE, AND MAYBE SOME COUPONS FOR DISCOUNTS FOR THAT, AND THEN MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN GET INTO ICE SKATE SHARPENING.
I DON'T KNOW IF THEY DO THAT NOW, SO WE'RE GOING TO CHECK WITH THEM ON THAT.
THEN ALSO WE TALKED ABOUT MAYBE, IF ANYONE OUT THERE HAS ANY OLD ICE SKATES YOU WANT TO GET RID OF.
THEN WE HAVE A NICE LITTLE SUPPLY THERE.
ANYBODY LEAVING IF YOU DON'T HAVE SKATES, YOU COULD COME AND PUT SOME ON AND AT LEAST TO ESCAPE.
BUT JUST EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THIS IS NOT FOR HOCKEY, WE DIDN'T GET HACKY BOARDS, AND GOALS, AND ALL OF THAT, BUT IT'S REALLY JUST FOR COMMUNITY SKATING, AND FUN, AND WE CAN PLAY MUSIC, AND WE'VE GOT HEATERS AND, YEAH, IT'S GOING TO BE GREAT FUN.
THEN ALSO THE FRIENDS OF HISTORIC MERIDIAN IS HOSTING THEIR BLUE AND GRAY EVENT ON OCTOBER 2ND IN THE HISTORICAL VILLAGE, ACTUALLY, IT'S THE 2ND AND 3RD, AND THERE'S A CIVIL WAR REENACTMENT, THEY HAVE ALL SORTS OF THINGS GOING ON.
THEY WILL BE DOING SOME CAMPING.
THERE'S AN OUTDOOR GATHERING FROM IT THAT THEY'RE PUTTING TOGETHER RIGHT NOW, BUT ANYWAY, IT SHOULD BE A LOT OF FUN AND IT'S REALLY NICE TO GET BACK INTO DOING SOME THINGS.
IT'S NORMALLY SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T DRAW A LOT OF PEOPLE, BUT IT IS REALLY FUN.
YOU GET TO STEP BACK IN THE PAST AND SEE WHAT LIFE WAS LIKE IN THE LATE 1800S, AND THEY DO A REALLY NICE JOB THERE.
THEN ALSO THERE IS THE RECYCLING EVENT COMING UP THIS COMING SATURDAY, WHICH IS SEPTEMBER 18TH, I BELIEVE IT'S FROM 9:00 TO 2:00 AT CHIPPEWA MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND THEY'RE DOING ELECTRONICS.
IF YOU WANT ALL THE DETAILS, GO TO THE TOWNSHIP WEBSITE, IT LISTS EVERYTHING THERE.
BUT IF YOU HAVE OLD COMPUTERS, AND MONITORS, AND TVS, OR MICROWAVES, OR WHATEVER, THEY'RE READY TO TAKE IT.
IF ANYONE'S INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING, JUST LOOK ON THE WEBSITE, THERE'S A PLACE TO VOLUNTEER RIGHT THERE, OR JUST CALL ME, AND I WILL GET YOU SET UP FOR WHOEVER, THE PERSON YOU NEED TO TALK TO.
THEN ALSO COMING UP THIS SATURDAY IS A MEMORIAL DEDICATION IN THE HISTORICAL VILLAGE TO JUNK BRETON BURGER, AND THAT'S AT 10:30.
JUNK BRETON BURGER WAS ONE OF THE ORIGINAL MEMBERS,
[01:20:01]
THAT IS WHY THE HISTORICAL VILLAGE WAS CREATED.HE PROVIDED THE IMPETUS TO ACTUALLY CREATE THE VILLAGE BACK IN 1984.
HE PASSED AWAY DURING COVID, AND SO IT REALLY WASN'T A FITTING OPPORTUNITY FOR THE TOWNSHIP TO THINK HE AND HIS FAMILY FOR ALL THAT THEY'VE DONE.
THEY WERE CHARTER MEMBERS OF THE FRIENDS OF HISTORIC MERIDIAN, WHICH IS OUR VOLUNTEER GROUP, THAT RUNS AND MANAGES, AND MAINTAINS THIS HISTORICAL VILLAGE, RUNS SCHOOL GROUPS THROUGH THERE, THROUGH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, THEY OFFER EVENTS LIKE THE BLUE AND GRAY EVENT, THE FORMER HERITAGE FESTIVAL, CHRISTMAS IN THE VILLAGE, THEY ARE A WONDERFUL GROUP.
JOHN RUTTENBERG ALSO WAS INVOLVED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW CHAPEL IN THE VILLAGE, AND I THINK FUNDED A MAJORITY OF THAT PROJECT.
WE HAVE INSTALLED A BRONZE PLAQUE AND PLANET AN OAK TREE IN HIS HONOR, SITTING BETWEEN THE CHAPEL AND THE GREENBERGER FARMHOUSE, WHICH I BELIEVE WAS THE HOUSE THAT HE GREW UP IN, THAT'S THERE.
ANYWAY, IT SHOULD BE JUST NOT A LONG EVENT, BUT IT'S AT 10:30 ON SATURDAY IF ANYBODY WANTS TO COME OUT, AND THE FRIENDS OF HISTORIC MERIDIAN WILL HOST REFRESHMENTS FOLLOWING THE CEREMONY.
I THINK WE'VE GOT SOCCER GOING ON, AND FLAG FOOTBALL HAPPENING, AND LOTS OF GOOD STUFF.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH LOUANN, LOTS OF GREAT STUFF.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT WITH US.
I WILL BE THERE TOMORROW FOR THE MUSIC TO DO THE ANNOUNCING SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT, AND THEN I WILL ALSO BE THERE ON SATURDAY FOR THE MEMORIAL, SO I ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO JOIN.
>> MOVING ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT, DO WE HAVE ANYBODY ON THE PHONE?
>> ONCE AGAIN, WE CAN'T MAKE TELEPHONE CALLS THAT HAVE BEEN [INAUDIBLE] 3491232.
ALTERNATIVELY, IF THERE WERE ANYBODY IN THE ATTENDEE AREA, THEY WOULD HAVE RAISED THEIR HAND, BUT THERE'S NO ONE IN THERE RIGHT NOW.
I AM NOT HEARING ANY TELEPHONE RINGING AT THIS TIME.
WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO OTHER MATTERS IN COMMISSIONER COMMENTS.
[10. OTHER MATTERS AND COMMISSIONERS’ COMMENTS]
COMMISSIONER FERRIS AND COMMISSIONER MCDONALD, I'D LIKE TO HEAR ABOUT THE MEETING YOU HAD LAST NIGHT, AND THEN COMMISSIONER STEVENS, AFTER THEY'RE DONE WITH LOVE TO HEAR ABOUT ANYTHING YOU HAVE TO SHARE.>> I'LL START AND THEN MIKE, IF YOU COULD CHIME IN AND PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION ON THE UNIVERSAL ACCESS ADVISER.
FOR ME, AS LUANN SAID, WE HAD A GREAT MEETING YESTERDAY.
JANE DID A GREAT JOB RUNNING THAT.
THERE WERE TWO INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED, TWO MOMS THAT HAD A LOT OF GOOD IDEAS BROUGHT FORWARD.
I THINK WHAT JANE HAD SAID IS THAT THERE IS POSSIBLY THE MORE PEOPLE THAT WERE INTERESTED IN ATTENDING, BUT MAYBE THE TIME DIDN'T WORK FOR THEM.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE US AS WE MOVE FORWARD TO HAVE ADDITIONAL PEOPLE PARTICIPATE, PARTICULARLY SOMEONE FROM THE TOWNSHIP WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE SOMEONE THAT WAS ACTUALLY FROM THE TOWNSHIP.
PARTICULARLY WITH ISSUES THAT PEOPLE ARE SO PASSIONATE ABOUT, THE MORE DIFFERENT TYPES OF ABILITIES WE HAVE REPRESENTED IT'S VERY HELPFUL.
IF NOT, I THINK THERE'S A TENDENCY FOR ANY OF US TO BRING FORWARD WHAT WE'RE FAMILIAR WITH.
THAT WAS SOME OF THE CONVERSATION THAT I PICKED UP DURING THE MEETING.
I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO HAVE MAYBE A COUPLE MORE PEOPLE THAT JOIN THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD. BUT THEY WERE VERY ENGAGED.
I WAS JUST AMAZED AT SOME OF THE IDEAS THAT WERE BROUGHT FORWARD AND MOVING FORWARD. I DIDN'T HAVE A QUESTION.
I DIDN'T KNOW IF WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS CONSISTENTLY OR REGULARLY OR MAYBE AD HOC AS A NEED ARISES OR FOR REVIEW OUR PLANS.
I WASN'T ENTIRELY CLEAR ABOUT THAT.
>> WE CAN ACTUALLY DO WHATEVER THE BOARD WOULD LIKE US TO DO.
TYPICALLY, WHEN WE'VE BEEN UPDATING, I JUST WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO THAT I DIDN'T MENTION THAT THE COMMISSION WAS UPDATING THE FIVE-YEAR PARKS AND RECREATION MASTER PLAN, AND THIS WAS REALLY AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE THEIR INPUT SO WE CAN START THE PLANNING PROCESS TO IMPLEMENT IN THE FUTURE.
AS IF NOTHING'S HAPPENING LIKE TOMORROW, BUT IT'S GETTING IN AT THE GROUND LEVEL.
ONCE WE HAVE A GOOD PLAN ESTABLISHED THEN IT'S EASY TO MOVE FORWARD.
THEY WERE SO APPRECIATIVE AND SO IMPRESSED WITH THE PARK COMMISSION FOR LIKE ASKING THEM AHEAD OF TIME INSTEAD OF COMING TO THEM AFTERWARDS.
THEN IF THEY'VE HAD SOME BAD EXPERIENCE RECENTLY WITH SOME OTHER PROJECTS AND OTHER COMMUNITIES.
THEY JUST REALLY COMPLIMENTED THE PARK COMMISSION ON INVITING THEM ON IN NOW TO START THE CONVERSATION.
LIKE I SAID, THEY WERE VERY WELL CONNECTED IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO THERE WERE OTHER PEOPLE THEY WERE GOING TO REACH OUT TO AS WELL.
I THINK ONE OF THE COMMENTS WAS MAYBE AN EVENING TIME ONE WOULD BE FACILITATE SOME OTHER PEOPLE JOINING AS WELL.
SO WE CAN CERTAINLY DO THIS AGAIN BEFORE WE FINALIZE OUR PLAN AND MAYBE WE DO THIS ANNUALLY.
[01:25:06]
>> THIS ONE IS GOING TO MAYBE EVEN 2-4 TIMES A YEAR DEPENDING.
I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S A NEED TO DO IT AGAIN BEFORE WE FINALIZE THE PLAN BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT THEY BROUGHT IN A LOT OF GREAT IDEAS AND I'D BE REALLY INTERESTED TO HEAR WHAT SOME OF OUR RESIDENTS, SAY OR WHAT THEY SAY IN THEIR COMMENTS.
THEY WERE JUST VERY APPRECIATE THEY BROUGHT IN THAT FRONT END AND NOT AFTER THE FACT.
I KNOW BEING INVOLVED IN PROJECTS MYSELF, BUT IT'S TYPICALLY GET GOING ON SOMETHING REALLY EXCITED AND THEN YOU TAKE IT TO SOMEBODY AND THEN BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO CHANGE ANYTHING, BECAUSE YOU'VE ALREADY [LAUGHTER] DEVELOPED IT AND IT'S ALL WELL THOUGHT OUT.
SO THEY WERE VERY APPRECIATIVE, AND JANE DID A GREAT JOB IN FACILITATING. MICHAEL.
>> I GUESS WHAT I WOULD ADD WAS THERE WAS A COUPLE OF JUST THINK OF THEM AS REVELATIONS TO ME.
A COUPLE OF THEM WERE FROM CATHERINE.
I CAN ONLY REALLY THINK OF ONE REVELATORY THING FROM LEE.
BUT LEE WAS JUST AS ENGAGING AND CAPTIVATING AS CATHERINE.
ONE IS THAT I KNOW ABOUT AUTISM.
I KNOW FOLKS NOT IN MY INNER CIRCLE, BUT FOLKS THAT HAVE CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS ON THAT SPECTRUM, BUT THE CATHERINE INCLUDED ME IN ON SOMETHING I WAS NOT AWARE OF THAT.
YES, I BELIEVE I LEAVED I KNEW THAT AUTISTIC FOLKS ARE VERY AVERSE TO NOISE.
THERE IS A SIMILAR PART OF THE AUTISTIC COMMUNITY OR SPECTRUM THAT CRAVES NOISE.
THEN SOMETHING I HAD NO IDEA ABOUT THAT AUTISTIC PEOPLE ARE DRAWN TO WATER.
THAT IS AS IN GETTING IN THE WATER TO GO SWIMMING OR WHATEVER.
THAT WAS JUST BRAND NEW TO ME.
BUT YET, IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO EITHER BOTH OF THEM HAVE HAD IT AID OR REGION-WIDE GROUPS AND COMMISSIONS ON VARIOUS ASPECTS OF ACCESSIBILITY.
LEE, I BELIEVE BROUGHT UP FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.
THEY NEED TO HAVE SOME ADULT SIZE CHANGING TABLES BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT SOME ADULTS ARE INCONTINENT AND HAVE FAMILY AND SO FORTH WITH THEM.
THEN SHE TALKED ABOUT WIPES AND DIAPERS AND THE LIKE.
I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY PLACE THAT HAS AN ADULT CHANGING TABLE AND YET I'M SURE THEY EXIST.
AGAIN, BACK TO THAT ENTHUSIASM ASPECT. I AGREE.
JANE HAVE VERY ABLE STAFF PERSON AND I DON'T THINK SHE'S PLANNING ON CALLING A MEETING BEFORE THE END OF THE CALENDAR YEAR, BUT WHEN AND IF WE PUT UP A BOOTH AT THE FARMERS MARKET, LUANN, COULD WE MAKE SURE THAT WE REACH OUT TO THOSE AT LEAST THOSE TWO LADIES AND GIVE THEM A PERSONAL INVITE TO [INAUDIBLE]
>> LIKE I SAID, WE'LL PUT TOGETHER A FULL WRITTEN REPORT FOR EVERYONE AND IT'LL BE EASIER TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION.
BUT ANYWAY, IT TURNED OUT MUCH BETTER THAN I ANTICIPATED.
WE HAD SOME GREAT INPUT AND COMMENTS.
I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE CAN DO.
THEN WE HAD THEM TAKE A LOOK AT THE TONER ROAD, MULTI-GENERATIONAL FITNESS PLAYGROUND AREA TO GRAB SOME INPUT.
THEN ALSO THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT HAS A GRANT AND FOR THE PHASE 3 OF THE MSU LAKE LANSING TRIO.
TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS WE WOULD PROBABLY KNOW, REST ROOM AVAILABILITY IS IMPORTANT, BENCHES ARE IMPORTANT.
LIKE WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND IF YOU LIKE, SWERVE FROM THE LANE A LITTLE BIT AND ITS RUMBLED ON THE SIDES.
WELL, MAYBE WE DO SOMETHING WITH A [INAUDIBLE] OF RUMBLE AND SO THEN PEOPLE WHO ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED CAN TELL WHERE THE EDGE OF THE PATHWAY IS.
JUST AND THINGS LIKE THAT THAT WE PROBABLY HADN'T THOUGHT OF AND THAT ARE EASY TO DO.
IT WAS JUST YESTERDAY, SO WANTED TO MAKE SURE AT LEAST WHO BROUGHT IT UP TODAY.
BUT, EVERY DAY IS A LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR SURE.
>> ABSOLUTELY. WELL, THANK YOU TO COMMISSIONER FARRIS AND COMMISSIONER MCDONALD FOR REPRESENTING THE PARK COMMISSION AT THAT MEETING AND THANK YOU LUANN AND JANE FOR FACILITATING THAT.
TO THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT ATTENDED, I THINK IT'S JUST IMPERATIVE THAT WE LIFT THOSE VOICES AND
[01:30:02]
THESE CONVERSATIONS AS WE'RE WORKING THROUGH IMPROVEMENTS OF OUR PARK SYSTEM OR TRAIL SYSTEM, OUR PLANS, AND THE FUTURE.WE'LL HAVE TO DO IT ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS.
WE DON'T WANT TO ASSUME THAT JUST A COUPLE OF VOICES AS REFLECTIVE OF EVERYONE.
I THINK, PUTTING UP THE BOOTH AND SEEKING OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUTURE MEETINGS WOULD BE GOOD.
BUT I LIKE YOUR APPROACH, LUANN OF GOING BACK TO THEM AND ASKING THEM WHAT THEY WOULD PREFER IN TERMS OF HOW MANY TIMES THEY MEET A YEAR.
THEN AD HOC BECAUSE WE HAVE OTHER BIG PROJECTS THAT COME UP WHERE WE NEED TO DO THAT.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS, MR. STEPHENS? THANK YOU, EVERYONE FOR A WONDERFUL MEETING, AND A MEETING THAT KEPT ME ON MY TOES THE ENTIRE TIME.
[LAUGHTER] LOTS OF LAUGHS AND WE'LL LOOK TO ADJOURN NOW IN OUR NEXT MEETING WILL BE HELD TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12TH AT THE MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP SERVICE CENTER ON THE [INAUDIBLE] IN HASLETT, AT 4:30 PM.
THANKS FOR TUNING IN AND WE'LL SEE YOU SOON.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD NIGHT EVERYONE.
>> THANK YOU STEPHEN FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE.
>> ANYTIME.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.