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PARK TOWNSHIP
BOARD MEETING MINUTES
JULY,
2003
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here to go back to the Archive page or meeting Schedules.
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The
regular meeting of the Park Township Board held on July 10, 2003, at 6
p.m. was called to order by Supervisor Stuart Visser.
Present
were Supervisor Stuart Visser, Treasurer Jan
Steggerda, Trustees Ed Marsilje, Gene Koopman, Amanda Price and Paul
VanDyke, and Attorney Dan Martin.
Absent
was Clerk Howard Van Raalte
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The minutes of June 12, 2003 board meeting
were approved
as printed. |
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The Treasurer's Report was given as
follows:
Beginning Balance,
$2,824,769
Receipts,
$ 36,795
Disbursement,
$302,030
Ending Balance, $2,559,534
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The Fire
Department report indicated 11 calls were made in the month of June with $0 in property damage.
Fire Chief Ken Fought reported all equipment is in good working order. |
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The Zoning
Administrator's Report indicated building permits were issued for 6 single-family homes in
June and a total of $2,283,000.
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Koopman reported that 6 Liquor Inspection reports had been turned in from
June. All establishments were in compliance and good condition. |
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PUBLIC COMMENT
Bryan
Blank, 1345 Lakewood Blvd., expressed his support for a proposal to
upgrade the baseball field at Winstrom Park.
He has been on the West Ottawa Recreation Board under Park
Township’s control for the last seven years and has coached for seven
years. He has seen
approximately 400 youths using this field.
They are trying to be more competitive in baseball by starting a
little league program, but the fields need to be upgraded.
Tim
Cooke, 2374 Orchard Ave., also expressed his support for Winstrom Park
improvements. He has been on the West Ottawa Little League Board for eight
years and is involved in coaching as well.
He stated right now they do not have regulation diamonds to play
on. By upgrading
the fields, the diamonds will be used full-time.
Kristen
Visscher, 656 Harrington Ave., approached the board regarding the problems
at the Maatman Center. She
also presented a letter dated in 1998 listing the same on-going problems.
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WATERSHED
PRESENTATION
Charamy
Cleary, with the Macatawa Bay Watershed Project, gave a presentation on
the costs and effects of the Watershed Project. The M.A.C.C. is asking for
an increase in 2004 project dues, as well as extra funding for a special
wetland restoration project on Black River.
She noted the phosphorus level has gone down since the all time
high in 2000, but overall it is not a significant improvement.
Cleary detailed the watershed project budget, activities, and the
new upper Macatawa restoration site in Zeeland Township.
The restoration project is 100 acres of wetland that will help them
achieve the phosphorus reduction goal.
Marsilje
questioned the ramifications if the extra monies are not approved.
Cleary
answered if they don’t reach their goal the N.P.D.E.S. permits and
future expansions of wastewater treatment plants may be in jeopardy.
Marsilje
noted it would not be known if the goal was reached until 2008.
Cleary
expressed her concern if their goals are not met.
She feels the progress that they have made in making people aware
of what they are trying to do will lose great momentum.
Koopman
questioned whether or not there has been enough impact in past efforts to
warrant the money. He feels
maybe it’s time to seek new solutions.
He stated Park Township also had government funding cutbacks.
Dr.
Graham Peasley, Chair of the M.A.C.C. Technical Committee and Professor of
Environmental Sciences and Chemistry at Hope College, confirmed that the
progress amount to date has not been very large, and the amount of funds
spent has been large. He said
Lake Macatawa leads the state in phosphorus and is probably one of the
largest phosphorus lakes in the country. He noted the lake was not that way 100 years ago, which means
there is much work ahead. Technically
the lake can be cleaned up but it won’t be cheap and it won’t be easy.
Visser
questioned what would happen if the program is continued without the
special project funding.
Cleary
replied if that portion does not get funded, they are they are going to
install whatever they can with the money they have.
What they are hoping to do is make it a little better so they get
more phosphorus reduced. She
also stated the dues are allocated based on population of all the units of
government within the M.A.C.C.
MOTION
MADE; MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED:
A motion was made by Marsilje and supported by Koopman to fund the
M.A.C.C. 2004 watershed dues in the amount of $18,076.49.
MOTION
MADE; MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION DENIED:
A motion was made by Marsilje and supported by Steggerda to fund
$20,658.85 for the proposed special project.
Steggerda
stated the township has already made several adjustments and cutbacks.
She does not know where the money can come from this year.
We also need to anticipate possible funding loss in the following
year.
The
proposed special project motion was unanimously denied.
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WINSTROM PARK FIELD
IMPROVEMENTS
Visser
explained the proposed improvement for Winstrom Park ball diamonds and
it’s costs. He also noted
approval for installing an eight foot sideline fence would have to come
from the Z.B.A. Attorney Dan
Martin confirmed this.
MOTION MADE;
MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED: A motion was made by Marsilje and
supported by Koopman to approve the upgrading of Winstrom Park ball
diamonds with costs not to exceed $25,000.
Steggerda
questioned the number of bids obtained for the improvements.
She also stated that she is in favor of the reconstruction of the
ball diamonds, and that the costs are covered in the budget.
Mary Alice
Ritsema, Park Township Recreation/Parks Director, stated where the
individual estimates came from.
Koopman stated
this has been in the works for a long time and needs to be done.
This proposal is a good idea. |
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MAATMAN CENTER RENTAL
CONTRACT
Visser reported
the Maatman Center complaints brought to the Board during last month’s
meeting were referred to the Public Safety Committee.
The committee recommended changing the departure time from 11 p.m.
to no later than 10 p.m., and increasing the security deposit for evening
events from $150 to $300. The
new stipulations would be in place for a 90 day trial period.
Visser stated he would interview all potential renters to make sure
they understand the contract, and that the rental area will be policed
vigorously during this period. He
suggested that the board to review this in 3 months.
MOTION MADE;
MOTION SUPPORTED; MOTION CARRIED: A motion was made by Koopman and
supported by Steggerda to approve the Maatman Center rental agreement.
Visser
emphasized that amplified music is not allowed and that the police will
help to enforce this.
Koopman
volunteered to observe the renters during this time.
He feels with the new rules and extra enforcement the problems will
disappear. |
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COMMITTEE REPORTS
No committee reports.
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PAYMENT
OF BILLS MOTION
MADE, MOTION SUPPORTED, MOTION CARRIED:
A motion was made by Steggerda and supported by Koopman to approve
the check register for June and the bills to be paid for July. |
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ADDITIONAL COMMENTS FROM
AUDIENCE & BOARD Brian
Rexford, 1762 Main St., stated he is a member of the Recreation/Park
Committee and thanked the Board for their continuous support.
Visser stated
the Holland Jaycees is requesting permission to use Winstrom Park for the
2003 Haunted Forrest in October. The
time of the event is from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Due to set up and take down times they are requesting the use of
the park from 5:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.
MOTION MADE,
MOTION SUPPORTED, MOTION CARRIED: A motion was made by Koopman and
supported by Marsilje to approve the use of Winstrom Park for the Holland
Jaycees 2003 Haunted Forrest.
Van Dyke stated
the Ottawa County Fair begins July 21st.
Earl Welling,
Ottawa County Fair Board, stated the West Ottawa baseball team won the
state championship and will be honored at the Ottawa County Fair.
Price
complimented the Van Andel’s fireworks display, and suggested a letter
of “Thank You” be written. She
noted the truss in the larger airport hanger is now in.
Price also questioned if the township has explored what we could do
with our land to litigate phosphorus levels.
Steggerda
suggested someone from the maintenance department be involved in the
Winstrom Park improvements.
Marsilje
questioned if there was any way to cut back the deer population on the
south side.
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ADJOURN
MOTION MADE, MOTION
SUPPORTED, MOTION CARRIED: A motion was made by Koopman and supported by
Van Dyke to adjourn. |
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Julie Northrup, Recording
Secretary, 7/16/03 |
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