03-17-2015 Meeting Minutes

Board Attendance: Marcia Bedrock, Roger Chaffins, Skyler Ellinger, Debbie Mix, Rosemary Rose,

Call to Order at 6:00pm at the County Annex Building Pledge of Allegiance

Ms. Mix read the minutes from the previous meeting. Correction of the spelling of Mr. Ellinger’s name must be made. Mr. Chaffins made a motion to accept the minutes with the corrections. The motion was seconded by Rosie Rose. A vote was taken and the motioned was carried.

There was a discussion of the properties that the County had given us. They are confusing. 7 of the 9 properties don’t show the County as the owner. Do we need to contact the State? The Koontz Lake property is unclear regarding the owner. Are there more properties? Can we sell some of the properties to get funding for the Park Board? It was determined that we need to check with the Surveyor’s Office to check the status of the properties. Roger stated he would check out the properties.

Skyler stated he would set up a Facebook page. He will also check out the BassLakeBeachandCampground.com.

Chris Lawrence came before the board and asked about grooming the Starke County Forest trail. He had contacted Debbie Mix about a month and a half ago to find out if it was acceptable for him to groom the trail for snow-bicycling. It was noted that the board had previously met with Bruce Wakeland as did Mr. Lawrence. Mr. Wakeland had noted to Mr. Lawrence that he “seemed to be in favor of having snow-biking, but not at this time.” The trail would need to be groomed with a motorized vehicle. The biggest hurdle to get over is talking with Mr. Wakeland and getting him to agree since he is the Forest’s manager and has final say on what is done at the forest. The snow-grooming would allow snow-biking and also be a trail for Cross Country Skiing. Ms. Bedrock stated she would talk with Mr. Wakeland. Mr. Lawrence noted that Commissioner Kathy Norem was in favor of it. We may want to increase the size of the parking area if the usage is increased.

Mr. Ellinger brought up that we need a 5-year plan in place if we want to get funding. Some of the things that we spoke about:

  • ADA compliance. There is also ADA compliant playground equipment.
  • We need to get grant dollars.
  • We could use a university to develop a 5-yr. plan., or we can hire someone to write one.
  • In order to develop a 5-yr. plan, we need a list of properties and also understand the population demographics of the County.

Ms. Bedrock asked about the Jordan School. She could ask about the west part of the school, but we would need to map it out, first. We need to build ideas before writing a 5-yr. plan.

After discussions, the board agreed to meet at the Bass Lake Beach and Campground on April 23, at 3p.m. Mr. Ellinger will call Mr. Wallsmith to inform him. We will make a list of the things that we see need attention to operate the beach & Campground.

The audience was asked for comments. It was asked if it was possible to get a “retired” piece of handicap playground equipment. We will need to look into who retires the equipment and check with the County regarding insurance carriers.

Roger will be the official Keeper of the key to the Annex.

A motion to adjourn was made by Ms. Bedrock and seconded by Mr. Chaffins. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 7:05 pm. The next meeting will be on May 19, at 6 p.m.

Respectfully submitted, Deborah Mix, Secretary.

Board Attendance: Marcia Bedrock, Roger Chaffins, Skyler Ellinger, Debbie Mix, Rosemary Rose,

Call to Order at 6:00pm at the County Annex Building Pledge of Allegiance

Ms. Mix read the minutes from the previous meeting. Correction of the spelling of Mr. Ellinger’s name must be made. Mr. Chaffins made a motion to accept the minutes with the corrections. The motion was seconded by Rosie Rose. A vote was taken and the motioned was carried.

There was a discussion of the properties that the County had given us. They are confusing. 7 of the 9 properties don’t show the County as the owner. Do we need to contact the State? The Koontz Lake property is unclear regarding the owner. Are there more properties? Can we sell some of the properties to get funding for the Park Board? It was determined that we need to check with the Surveyor’s Office to check the status of the properties. Roger stated he would check out the properties.

Skyler stated he would set up a Facebook page. He will also check out the BassLakeBeachandCampground.com.

Chris Lawrence came before the board and asked about grooming the Starke County Forest trail. He had contacted Debbie Mix about a month and a half ago to find out if it was acceptable for him to groom the trail for snow-bicycling. It was noted that the board had previously met with Bruce Wakeland as did Mr. Lawrence. Mr. Wakeland had noted to Mr. Lawrence that he “seemed to be in favor of having snow-biking, but not at this time.” The trail would need to be groomed with a motorized vehicle. The biggest hurdle to get over is talking with Mr. Wakeland and getting him to agree since he is the Forest’s manager and has final say on what is done at the forest. The snow-grooming would allow snow-biking and also be a trail for Cross Country Skiing. Ms. Bedrock stated she would talk with Mr. Wakeland. Mr. Lawrence noted that Commissioner Kathy Norem was in favor of it. We may want to increase the size of the parking area if the usage is increased.

Mr. Ellinger brought up that we need a 5-year plan in place if we want to get funding. Some of the things that we spoke about:

  • ADA compliance. There is also ADA compliant playground equipment.
  • We need to get grant dollars.
  • We could use a university to develop a 5-yr. plan., or we can hire someone to write one.
  • In order to develop a 5-yr. plan, we need a list of properties and also understand the population demographics of the County.

Ms. Bedrock asked about the Jordan School. She could ask about the west part of the school, but we would need to map it out, first. We need to build ideas before writing a 5-yr. plan.

After discussions, the board agreed to meet at the Bass Lake Beach and Campground on April 23, at 3p.m. Mr. Ellinger will call Mr. Wallsmith to inform him. We will make a list of the things that we see need attention to operate the beach & Campground.

The audience was asked for comments. It was asked if it was possible to get a “retired” piece of handicap playground equipment. We will need to look into who retires the equipment and check with the County regarding insurance carriers.

Roger will be the official Keeper of the key to the Annex.

A motion to adjourn was made by Ms. Bedrock and seconded by Mr. Chaffins. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 7:05 pm. The next meeting will be on May 19, at 6 p.m.

Respectfully submitted, Deborah Mix, Secretary.

Board Attendance: Marcia Bedrock, Roger Chaffins, Skyler Ellinger, Debbie Mix, Rosemary Rose,

Call to Order at 6:00pm at the County Annex Building Pledge of Allegiance

Ms. Mix read the minutes from the previous meeting. Correction of the spelling of Mr. Ellinger’s name must be made. Mr. Chaffins made a motion to accept the minutes with the corrections. The motion was seconded by Rosie Rose. A vote was taken and the motioned was carried.

There was a discussion of the properties that the County had given us. They are confusing. 7 of the 9 properties don’t show the County as the owner. Do we need to contact the State? The Koontz Lake property is unclear regarding the owner. Are there more properties? Can we sell some of the properties to get funding for the Park Board? It was determined that we need to check with the Surveyor’s Office to check the status of the properties. Roger stated he would check out the properties.

Skyler stated he would set up a Facebook page. He will also check out the BassLakeBeachandCampground.com.

Chris Lawrence came before the board and asked about grooming the Starke County Forest trail. He had contacted Debbie Mix about a month and a half ago to find out if it was acceptable for him to groom the trail for snow-bicycling. It was noted that the board had previously met with Bruce Wakeland as did Mr. Lawrence. Mr. Wakeland had noted to Mr. Lawrence that he “seemed to be in favor of having snow-biking, but not at this time.” The trail would need to be groomed with a motorized vehicle. The biggest hurdle to get over is talking with Mr. Wakeland and getting him to agree since he is the Forest’s manager and has final say on what is done at the forest. The snow-grooming would allow snow-biking and also be a trail for Cross Country Skiing. Ms. Bedrock stated she would talk with Mr. Wakeland. Mr. Lawrence noted that Commissioner Kathy Norem was in favor of it. We may want to increase the size of the parking area if the usage is increased.

Mr. Ellinger brought up that we need a 5-year plan in place if we want to get funding. Some of the things that we spoke about:

  • ADA compliance. There is also ADA compliant playground equipment.
  • We need to get grant dollars.
  • We could use a university to develop a 5-yr. plan., or we can hire someone to write one.
  • In order to develop a 5-yr. plan, we need a list of properties and also understand the population demographics of the County.

Ms. Bedrock asked about the Jordan School. She could ask about the west part of the school, but we would need to map it out, first. We need to build ideas before writing a 5-yr. plan.

After discussions, the board agreed to meet at the Bass Lake Beach and Campground on April 23, at 3p.m. Mr. Ellinger will call Mr. Wallsmith to inform him. We will make a list of the things that we see need attention to operate the beach & Campground.

The audience was asked for comments. It was asked if it was possible to get a “retired” piece of handicap playground equipment. We will need to look into who retires the equipment and check with the County regarding insurance carriers.

Roger will be the official Keeper of the key to the Annex.

A motion to adjourn was made by Ms. Bedrock and seconded by Mr. Chaffins. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 7:05 pm. The next meeting will be on May 19, at 6 p.m.

Respectfully submitted, Deborah Mix, Secretary.