Starke County Park Board
January 9, 2024
Meeting Minutes
Meeting was called to order by President R. Ballard.
Present: R. Ballard, T. Busch and S. Byer
Minutes from Nov. 14, 2023 were approved 3-0
Mike Reese from the Troyer Group presented the board with information detailing what improvements will fall into the water & conservation grant. They are working on design for implementation of the project including improvements to the beach house, mostly focused on accessibility and functionality, electrical and plumbing that needs to meet code, the other bathhouses, playgrounds, parking and tent site upgrades. Now waiting on DNR and IDEM approval and will work on State Preservation office because it has been deemed a historical site. The intention is to maintain the exterior look. HPO application review can take a couple of months. Once approved, DNR sends it to the National Fish & Wildlife for Federal approval. This could happen in June. Once completed, they can begin getting bids for the work to begin. Troyer will provide a written scope of the work and anticipated timeline to the board. Troyer is currently getting more in-depth scope to determine what is needed. Not everything needs to be replaced. Want to be 100% ready for a bid set in June.
Troyer will act as representative for the county and work with the contractors and will assist the board in determining the bids. The Parks will be operational during the construction.
T. Williams is looking at a 60” Toro Zero turn mower and will present bids at next month’s meeting as well as securing bids for the much-needed roof on the park garage.
T. Williams reported the county has givien us a different vehicle at no additional cost. The park board will maintain it. D. Binkley has also loaned the park a Polaris 4-wheeler.
The Park department received reimbursement for the lift station and grant money. Next meeting will provide more accurate accounting.
New Seasonal leases have been completed.
S. Byer made motion, T. Busch seconded and it was voted 3-0 to keep the board as it is.
T. Busch made motion, seconded by S. Byer and passed 3-0 to adjourn meeting at 7:44 PM