HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 1966.11.18 - 38340PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING
November 18, 1966
The meeting was called to order at 9:30 A.M. by Chairman Frances Clark in
Committee Room "A", Auditorium Wing, Service Center, Pontiac, Michigan.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT:
_7rances Clark, Chairman; Robert P. Allen, Velma Austin, Daniel Barry, John
L. Carey, Robert 0. Felt, Donald A. Kalmbach, Daniel T. Murphy.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT:
Clarence A. Durbin, Dorothy Olson.
OTHERS PRESENT:
Parks and Recreation Department Kenneth Van Natta, Director
Minutes of the August meeting were approved.
Mr. Van Natta gave a resume of developments concerning the former fish
hatchery site at Waterford, now being used as a nature study area. It
comprises 80 acres and is presently leased by the state to the Drayton Plains
Nature Association. This tract has been appraised by the state at $62,000.00.
An adjoining 55 acres may be available at $45,000.00. An estimated 400 to
500 children used the facility in the past year, and the Drayton Plains
Nature Association request a guarantee of permanent use for this purpose,
a provision the Commission deemed unwise.
Mr. Barry informed the Park Commission of a possibility that the entire
Clinton River Basin might be declared a flood plain area. The Drain Com-
missioners of Oakland, Lapeer, St. Clair and Macomb counties are to meet
with a representative of the Michigan State Department of Agriculture in
December to discuss the proposal, and if an affirmative decision is reached,
there is a tentative agreement among the Drain Commissioners, that some
of the affected land should be made available to the local County Parks
and Recreation Commission.
There was discussion of impending fiscal problems in 1967 due to funds from
the newly passed millage not becoming available until 1968. Mr. Van Natta
was directed to prepare an operating budget for approval by the Parks
Commission and submission to the Ways & Means Committee.
Mr. Allen and Mr. Van Natta were requested to draw up a policy statement
establishing regulations conforming with those of the related state and
federal agencies.
Mr. Van Natta reported the Michigan Agriculture Cooperative Extension has
made a survey and have asked for a site study and a possible transfer of
the 4-H facilities from the present inadequate location on Perry St., to a
permanent site on the grounds of Davisburg Park. It is being considered
that the cost of erecting buildings will be borne by 4-H, while maintenance
and year round use would be the responsibility of this Commission.
Consultation with the State Highway Dept. resulted in the redesigning of
a future expressway cloverleaf in anticipation of large volumes of traffic,
this land use would generate.
Next meeting will be held on November 30, 9:30 A.M.
Velma Austin
Secretary