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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 1980.09.17 - 38690OAKLAND COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING September 17, 1980 The meeting was called to order at 9:50 a.m. by Chairman Lewis E. Wint in the Parks and Recreation Commission Room. COMMISSION MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Lewis Wint, SecretaryVelma Austin, Don Deni, Fred Houghten, George Kuhn, Dr. Joseph Montante, Carol Stanley. COMMISSION MEMBERS ABSENT: Vice Chairman Marjorie Walker, Richard Wilcox. ALSO PRESENT: Parks and Recreation Civil Counsel's Office Anthony M. Franco, Inc. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: R. Eric Reickel, Manager Jon Kipke, Assistant Manager Charles Ross, Chief of Administrative Services Joseph Figa, Chief of Design & Development Janet Pung, Public Communications Officer Michael Thibodeau, Chief of Golf Sheila Cox, Accountant Thomas Seavey, Recreation Supervisor Ann Schug, Public Communications Section Jack Hays Dorothy Langan, Account Executive Moved by Mr. Houghten, supported by Mr. Deni to approve the minutes of the meeting of September 3, 1980, as written. Motion carried. APPROVAL OF PAYMENTS: Moved by Mrs. Austin, supported by Mr. Kuhn to approve payment of Vouchers 9-1 through 9-155. ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Austin, Deni, Houghten, Kuhn, Montante, Stanley, Wint (7) NAYS: (0) A sufficient majority having voted therefor, the motion carried. ACTIVITIES REPORT: Moved by Dr. Montante, supported by Mr. Houghten to accept the Activities Report as of August 31, 1980. Mr. Reickel stated that as of last week 943,138 persons had visited the parks in 1980. 3-1 (Commission Meeting, September 17, 1980) Commissioner Kuhn suggested that an appropriate gift might be in order for the one millionth visitor to the Park System. Staff will make a recommendation as to what type of gift should be given at the October 1 Commission meeting. Commissioner Deni requested a report on the 1980 Mobile Recreation Program. Mr. Kipke replied that staff was preparing a proposed restructuring of the program for the 1981 budget. Tom Seavey, Recreation Supervisor, answered questions about the 1980 program. Chairman Wint requested that a questionnaire be sent to recreation directors in Oakland County asking their opinions for future use of the program and what they would like to see the Commission do relative to the Mobile Recreation Program. Chairman Wint read a letter received from John Olsen, Mayor of the City of Huntington Woods, requesting the Parks and Recreation Commission give serious consideration to the provision of County recreation in South Oakland cities such as free mobile recreation visits, keeping a set of mobile units in South Oakland, and/or "...credits for cities like Huntington Woods could also be provided at the County Parks, like the Wave-Tec pool, which is used by many of the recreation departments." The letter was referred to Jon Kipke for inclusion in the Mobile Recreation evaluation. Motion carried. 1980 AUDIT OF FINANCIAL RECORDS: Staff recommended the firm of Janz & Knight be retained to conduct the 1980 audit of the Parks and Recreation Commission funds for the sum of $8700 to $9300. The firm has performed the audit for the past five years. Commissioner Houghten felt the fee was excessive for our budget and asked that proposals be obtained from three accounting firms for the 1981 audit. Moved by Dr. Montante, supported by Mr. Deni to authorize the firm of Janz & Knight to conduct the 1980 audit of the Parks and Recreation Commission's financial records at a price range of $8700 to $9300. ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Deni, Houghten, Kuhn, Montante, Stanley, Wint, Austin (7) NAYS: (0) A sufficient majority having voted therefor, the motion carried. RED OAKS GOLF DOME: Due to the fact that the lawyer for Mr. Mike Thompson, principal in the Golf Dome venture, did not deliver the proposed contract for the Dome in time for the Commission meeting, it will be distributed to the Commission prior to and discussed at the meeting of October 1. (continued) 3-2 (Commission Meeting, September 17, 1980) RED OAKS GOLF DOME (continued) Discussion followed on several aspects of the contract. Commissioner Kuhn stated the Drain Commission was preparing a formal letter to obtain approval of the project from the Corps of Engineers. CLINTON RIVER WETLANDS ACQUISITION: Mr. Figa explained he had been informed by the Department of Natural Resources that the hold on Land Trust Funds had been lifted and projects were now being processed according to priority. As a result, Parks and Recreation is now eligible to receive grant funds of $250,000 toward the purchase of the 200+ acres of wetlands in Independence Township, as per the grant. The land, originally owned by 12 separate parties, is now owned in total by the Edward C. Levy Company. It is adjacent to Independence Oaks County Park and runs to Independence Township's Clintonwood Park. The land is the headwaters of the Clinton River. A contract between the DNR and Oakland County Parks and Recreation will be for- warded to our office upon DNR's receipt of our letter stating we are agreeable to initiating action on the project. Parks and Recreation's share of $212,000 for the project was approved in the 1978 budget. Moved by Mr. Houghten, supported by Dr. Montante to proceed with the contractual agreement for the Clinton River Wetlands grant. ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Houghten, Montante, Stanley, Wint, Austin, Deni (6) NAYS: (0) A sufficient majority having voted therefor, the motion carried. MOWER FOR ADDISON: Mr. Kipke explained there was a critical mowing problem at Addison Oaks due to the three-year old Jacobsen 72" mower being down for repairs. The total repair cost is $1000. Rather than repair the mower, staff recommended using it as a trade-in toward the purchase of an Excel Hustler from W. F. Miller as per the following quotation: Excel Hustler 285 Air Cooled $ 6,800 Rotary Attachment 72" 1,500 $ 8,300 Less trade-in on Jacobsen 72" 2,300 TOTAL PURCHASE PRICE $ 6,000 3-3 (Commission Meeting, September 17, 1980) Moved by Mrs. Austin, supported by Mrs. Stanley to purchase an Excel Hustler mower for use at Addison Oaks from the W. F. Miller Company for $6,000. ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Stanley, Wint, Austin, Deni, Houghten (5) NAYS: (0) A sufficient majority having voted therefor, the motion carried. GLEN OAKS: ---Mr. Reickel stated we had received the Occupancy Permit for Glen Oaks. ---The Farmington Hills Police Department will perform the final inspection and upon approval of that inspection, will send papers to the Liquor Control Com- mission for issuance of the liquor license. ---As was discussed at the last meeting, Mr. Figa obtained a price for repairing the rotted out 18 x 15' storage room at Glen Oaks. The amount quoted from Jodway, the contractor already on the job, was $5265. Jodway will completely rebuild the storage room, including fireproof wood and insulation, wiring, siding, etc. Mr. Figa requested that $6000 be approved for the project in case they run into problems. Moved by Mr. Deni, supported by Mrs. Stanley to approve Jodway rebuilding the storage room at Glen Oaks; price not to exceed $6000. ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Wint, Austin, Deni, Houghten, Stanley (5) NAYS: (0) A sufficient majority having voted therefor, the motion carried. CHRYSLER PROPERTY - ORION TOWNSHIP: Through a contact with the Detroit Free Press, Ms. Pung learned that a press release dated September 17, 1980, had been issued from Senator Riegle's office stating that the U. S. Department of the Interior would make a $1 million grant to the State of Michigan to initiate purchase of the 2400-acre Chrysler property in Orion Township. The press release stated that along with federal and state funds, "Oakland County" would contribute $500,000 toward the purchase. Mr. Reickel was subsequently contacted by 0. J. Scherschlight, Deputy Director of the Department of Natural Resources who stated that through the joint efforts of U. S. Senators Riegle and Levin and State Representative Tomboulian, Cecil Andrus, Secretary of the Interior, agreed to grant the State of Michigan $1 million out of the Secretary's Contingency Fund toward the purchase. 3-4 (Commission Meeting, September 17, 1980) CHRYSLER PROPERTY - ORION TOWNSHIP (continued) Mr. Reickel relayed to Mr. Scherschlight that the County was interested in the project but wasn't ready to commit itself until more information was obtained on what the shortfall was. He requested a letter from Mr. Scherschlight asking what the shortfall would be and what role the DNR wanted us to play in it. Mr. Reickel stated this would be a good acquisition but we would be in no position to develop the park in the immediate future because of our commitment to developing our present parks. Moved by Mr. Houghten, supported by Mr. Deni to draft a resolution stating that the Parks and Recreation Commission is committed to the preservation of the property and would be willing to cooperate in funding as long as it was within the means of the Commission and to direct Mr. Reickel to continue working with the Department of Natural Resources on the project. ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Austin, Deni, Houghten, Wint (4) NAYS: (0) A sufficient majority having voted therefor, the motion carried. MANAGER'S REPORT: ---Mr. Reickel attended Representative Harrison's seminar at the Courthouse on September 13. ---Seventy exhibits have been registered for the Fall Festival of Women's Works at the Springfield Youth Activities Center. It will be held on Saturday, October 11, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, October 12, noon to 6 p.m. ---Anne Clinton-Cirocco, Supervisor of the Springfield Oaks Youth Activities Center, is on a maternity leave. Dan Stencil and Sandra Pulk will operate the YAC in her absence. ---Mr. Kipke reported on a meeting he attended with the 4-H Fair Board. The Board drew up a list of capital improvements for consideration by the Commission. Meeting adjourned at 11:40 a.m. Velma Austin Sec yegary Betty esti' -- "Recor ng Secretary j 3-5