Parks and Recreation - Regular Meeting

CALL TO ORDER

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

ATTENDANCE: Roll call

MINUTES:

AMEND AGENDA:

PUBLIC COMMENT:

CORRESPONDENCE:

A woman walking the path reported being approached by a man – possibly the person responsible for the spray-painted trail arrows – who tried to direct her in a particular direction.

Jean – Parks Status Update: season wrap-up across parks

(last event 10/7 at Langland; Langland closing tasks – bathroom pump-out, dumpster removal 11/15, ADA walkway coordination with Anthony's; North Point irrigation shutoff & Scarlata invasive treatment next week; Glen Park boardwalk repairs & dog-waste station install; Carden Round-Up treatment planned; Road Ends survey nearly complete). See attached.

Capper – Jean (Gene) Capper's report on this year's events

See attached (Events Report for 2026 from Jean Capper.docx).

Assignments not assigned to a specific month

Village / Township joint efforts – Ervin, Halloran:

M. Ervin – 2027 programming plans

Special Ed Field Trip/Adventure at North Point, Bird Walks (if Brian continues), final year of the 30 Day Challenge; Jean to take on additional events with support from the Conservation District [see 8/17 email]

M. Ervin – MCCF Ricky James William Memorial Fund grant ($9,561 total project cost: $1,000 Parks & Rec match, $8,561 MCCF funding request) for the Special Ed Field Trip (2027 programming)

approved by the Township Board at its September 9, 2026 special meeting

Reviewed Board Action items/Items of note document –

Joe S-Village working with Safe Routes to school for sidewalk grant in Village

Noise ordinance again requested to change

Was referred to Planning commission.

Red Rock Energy requested access to Erdman properties for seismic testing

Tie vote 2-2 resolution failed.

Maintenance permits under review by grant writer

Bick to resurface after Glen Park resubmission.

ADA walkway to be removed from Langland on October 1, 2026 and stored for the season at Matt Kieffer's property (Anthony's handling removal)

Has Anthony's been informed?

Fitness Stations

Installed and re-work completed

ADA upgrade / accessible fitness path

bid specification sent 9/18 to Swidorski, Gilbert, and Anthony's for quotes; awaiting Griswold's contact info to send the spec there too. Work and billing due to the Township Clerk no later than March 31, 2027.

ADA parking lot striping

cost estimate status; consider bundling with MCCF fitness-park ADA grant; Matt getting quotes from Brown's/Swidorski's

Asphalt & gravel pathway

seal coating discussion (M. Ervin, 8/19 email)

Spray-painted arrows on path (both entrances)

remove/cover during crack repair to avoid damaging asphalt (Jean/M. Ervin thread, 8/19)

HWA

fall assessment on the schedule with the Invasive Species Network (ISN); Board approved

Dog waste station + "Dogs Must Be on Leash" signage

Jean installing; confirm signage attachment method; shipping & install location being confirmed with Jennifer (Jean handling)

DNR grant (MNRTF)

MCCF has approved its $75,000 match grant (award letter dated 9/16), resolving the Board's open match-determination question (see attached Board document); combined DNR score is now 285 (270 base + 15 MCCF points) – still short of the ~295–300 competitive minimum, so working with grant writer Carl Ferguson and MDNR's Charamy Cleary to close the gap through additional scoring opportunities. Updated application due to DNR 10/1/26. Township will cover any budget overage above the engineering estimate. MCCF award letter attached.

Trail connectivity (DNR bonus points)

three phases: (1) Village 4th Street sidewalk, M-22 to the Glen Park lot (citizen-funded); (2) Village's Safe Routes to School sidewalk upgrade; (3) Township trails initiative connecting North Point Park to the