Tuscola County Parks & Recreation Commission

125 W. Lincoln Street 989.672.3700

Caro, MI 48723 Fax: 989.672.4011

www.tuscolacounty.org

MINUTES OF THE 4TH QUARTER REGULAR MEETING

OF THE

TUSCOLA COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION

Thursday, October 3, 2019 – 3:00 p.m.

Commissioners’ Board Room of the H.H. Purdy Building

125 W Lincoln Street, Caro MI

Roll call: Terri Eden, Steve Erickson, Cynthia Kapa (Planning Commission), Bob Mantey (Drain

Commissioner – or his designee: Dara McGarry or Jody Vrable), Julie Matuszak (Designated Road

Commissioner), Robert McKay (Chairman), Jerry Peterson (Vice Chairman), Kim Vaughan, (Tuscola County

Board of Commissioners).

Excused Absence: none

Call to order: With quorum present consisting of Terri Lynn Eden, Steve Erickson, Bob Mantey, Julie

Matuszak, Robert McKay, and Kim Vaughan, the 4th Quarter Regular Meeting of the Tuscola County Parks and

Recreation Commission was called to order at 3:02 pm by Chairman McKay.

Others present: Nancy Barrios

Approval of agenda: Approval of revised agenda moved by Eden, supported by Erickson, and passed

unanimously.

Approval of minutes: Approval of Minutes of August 1, 2019, 2nd Quarter Regular Meeting moved by

Erickson, supported by Vaughan, and passed unanimously.

Public comments: -- none --

Review of correspondence(s) received, and/or relevant actions by the Tuscola County Board of Commissioners: - none -

Extracts from Tuscola County Board of Commissioners meeting minutes as follow:

2019-08-15 New Business:

-Vanderbilt Park Dump Station - Mike Miller provided an update regarding the progress on the

Dump Station. Mike is having difficulty getting the plans for the water system from the engineer in

order to review them.

2019-08-29 New Business:

-County Land Bank - Steve Erickson presented to the Board regarding State Land property that was

the former prison area. The Board has the option to have the interested property surveyed to be

reviewed by the State Land Bank for transfer to the County to place in the County Land Bank. The

Board provided direction to Steve Erickson to clarify items prior to proceeding forward.

-Possible Land Surveying cost on State Land.

2019-09-26:

Committee of the Whole Consent Agenda 2019-09-23):

-Vanderbilt Park Dump Station - Mike Miller presented what the additional cost would be to

upgrade the station to be able to include the addition of showers at a later date. Tip Maguire told

Mike Miller that a permit from EGLE is no longer required. Mike Miller can proceed forward to

include the potential of adding in the shower option.

Media coverage and other items related to Parks and Recreation:

Tuscola County Advertiser, August 10, 2019, “Exchange Club Hosts Annual Trail Walk” by John Schneider.

Tuscola County Advertiser, August 10, 2019, “Millington Park Gets Some New Features”.

Tuscola County Advertiser, August 21, 2019, “Renovations complete at Vassar Township Golf Course” by

John Schneider.

Tuscola County Advertiser, August 28, 2019, “State Offers County More Land” by Mark Haney.

Tuscola County Advertiser, August 31, 2019, “Interest Shown in Abandoned Prison” by John Schneider.

Tuscola County Advertiser, September 4, 2019, “Gift of Gaffe? County Wants State’s Land Offer in

Writing” by Mark Haney.

Tuscola County Advertiser, September 7, 2019, “Street to Offer Shared Space” by Mark Haney.

Tuscola County Advertiser, September 18, 2019, “Volunteers Needed for River Cleanup” by Mark Haney.

Tuscola County Advertiser, September 28, 2019, “Park to Finally Get Dump Station” by Mark Haney.

Tuscola County Advertiser, September 28, 2019, “

Village Opts out of Recreational Marijuana” by Mark Haney.

Reports of outside meetings and/or other official activity:

1) Chairman McKay attended Cass River Greenway meeting at Vassar City Hall on August 7.

2) Chairman McKay attended Vassar Township August 10th ribbon-cutting ceremony at Vassar Township

Community Park.

3) Letter sent to Chairman Bardwell requesting new land survey of Vanderbilt County Park and

Campground.

4) Chairman McKay expects to attend Cass River Greenway meeting on November 6 at Vassar City Hall.

Public Comment: -- none –

New Business

1) Discussion of ORV trails (by request of Nancy Barrios) with respect to trails on Michigan Department of

Natural Resources land not reserved for hunting and non-motorized use. Kim Vaughan was to see if there

were DNR land in Tuscola County that was not so restricted owing to the manner in which the land was

acquired.

2) Examination of current Tuscola County Parks and Recreation Commission member appointment

expiration dates:

December 31, 2019 – Gerald Peterson

December 31, 2019 – Kim Vaughan

December 31, 2020 – Steve Erickson

December 31, 2020 – currently open seat which was held formerly by Dave Barrios

December 31, 2021 – Robert McKay

December 31, 2021 – Terri Lynn Eden

3) Examination of budget status report for August 2019.

4) Tuscola County Parks and Recreation 2020 meeting schedule moved by Erickson, supported by

Eden, and passed unanimously:

2020 MEETING SCHEDULE OF THE

TUSCOLA COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION

Meetings begin at 2:30 pm in the Commissioners’ Board Room of the H.H. Purdy Building located at

125 W. Lincoln Street, Caro MI unless otherwise indicated. Meetings of this Parks and Recreation

Commission are open to all members of the public under Michigan’s Open Meetings Act, MCL 15.265.

Tuesday, January 7 2:30 pm Quarterly meeting mandated by 2019 By-laws

Tuesday, February 4 2:30 pm

Tuesday, March 3 2:30 pm

Tuesday, April 7 2:30 pm Quarterly meeting mandated by 2019 By-laws

Tuesday, May 5 2:30 pm

Tuesday, June 2 2:30 pm

Tuesday, July 7 2:30 pm Quarterly meeting mandated by 2019 By-laws -- to be held

at Vanderbilt County Park & Campground Picnic Pavilion

located at 4446 Bath Road, Fairgrove MI

Tuesday, August 4 2:30 pm

Tuesday, September 1 2:30 pm

Tuesday, October 6 2:30 pm Quarterly meeting mandated by 2019 By-laws

Tuesday, November 3 2:30 pm

Tuesday, December 1 2:30 pm

Business to be carried over to future meeting(s):

1) Prepare capital master plan for submission to Tuscola County Board of Commissioners.

2) Review of recreational bicycle/walker rest areas along Tuscola county roadways -- one possibility

being at the intersection of Waterman Road and S. Vassar Road in Vassar Township. Another

possibility would be along Frankenmuth Road adjacent to City of Vassar’s Riverside Cemetery.

3) Continue with matter of designating W. Saginaw Road between City of Vassar and Village of

Mayville as “Trans-Tuscola Bike Route” as well as other portions of roadway such as M-15 westerly

from City of Vassar to Tuscola – Saginaw county line to be similarly designated.

Announcement of next scheduled meeting: The next scheduled meeting of the Tuscola County Parks and

Recreation Commission is the 1st Quarter Monthly Meeting to take place on Tuesday, January 7, 2020, at 2:30

pm in the Commissioners’ Board Room of the H.H. Purdy Building located at 125 W Lincoln St in Caro, MI.

Adjournment: Moved by Vaughan, supported by Erickson, and voted unanimously to adjourn at 4:07 pm.

Mention: As per the By-laws of the Tuscola County Parks and Recreation Commission, the election of

Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Tuscola County Parks and Recreation Commission takes place annually

at the 3rd Quarter Regular Meeting of the commission which is customarily held at Vanderbilt County Park

and Campground. The terms of office for both Chairman and Vice Chairman shall begin with the 4th

Quarter Regular Meeting at which the following calendar year’s Meeting Schedule is to be established by the

Tuscola County Parks and Recreation Commission.

Tuscola County Parks & Recreation Commission Mission Statement

The mission of the Tuscola County Parks & Recreation Commission is to advise the Tuscola County Board of Commissioners on

matters of policy and practice pertaining to the encouragement, establishment, and provision of recreational opportunities for residents

of, and visitors to, Tuscola County.

Cass River Greenway Meeting Minutes August 7, 2019

Vassar City Office 1:00 – 3:00 PM New CRG Banners Bob demonstrated the two new banners we have for use at events and presentations. One is a rollup banner of the Cass River Watershed and the other is a poster board display of the Cass River Water Trail. Log Jam Update Bill Wheeler reported the contractor was able to remove approximately 75% of the log jam near the waste treatment facility, thereby opening up the river for paddling purposes. However, since the spring thaw and flooding, a new smaller log jam has formed about 3/4 mile downstream of the original log jam. Bill is working with the contractor and property owners to address both sites. Update: Original log jam is still open and passable, still working on a plan for the second log jam. Hoffmann Park Launch Update Modifications have been made to the head wall (lowered it by 2 feet) and the asphalt path has been replaced with concrete. The floating dock will not be installed this year due to the lateness of the construction. Therefore, Hoffmann Park will be closed until next paddling season. Wickes Park Launch and M-13 Boat Launch Updates Wickes Park on the Saginaw River is the end point of the Cass River Water Trail. Funding has been secured to install a floating dock launch similar to what is in place at Heritage Park, Davis Park and Hoffmann Park. The installation of the floating dock launch was planned for early August. However, due to the high water in Lake Huron/Saginaw Bay, the Saginaw River water level is covering the walking path. It was decided to delay installation of the floating dock until the water receeds. M-13 Boat Launch improvements are planned for 2019, including parking lot improvements and additional signage. The project is waiting on an approved EGLE (DEQ) permit.

2019 Calendar of Events – August and September Events August 4 The Tri-Bavarian Triathlon in Frankenmuth August 16 – 18 The Great Lakes Rendezvous in Bridgeport August 23 Sturgeon Release in Frankenmuth September16 – 18 Walk Thru History in Bridgeport September 20 – 22 Open House at the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge September 21 11th Annual Cass River Cleanup in Ellington Township See our CRG website for details. Terrain360 Project Bob began the report by recapping the history of Terrain360, the plan to map the Cass River, how it was funded, and how the data will be used. Each member who participated in the 3 day mapping process reported on their experience. The group thoroughly enjoyed the project and we are looking forward to the edited results. We hope to post the various watertrail segments to our water trail website. 11th Annual Cass River Clean Up – September 21 Gene Suuppi and Nancy Barrios updated the group on plans for this year’s clean up. Volunteers will gather at Kappan Tree Service, 2799 Hurds Corner Road and clean approximately 4 miles of river in Ellington Township, between Cass City and Caro. See our website for more details. State Land/Tuscola County Parks Robert McKay reported that the potential acquisition is still active, but will be a long term project. The next step involves completing land surveys. August 23 Sturgeion Release Michelle VanderHaar reported on the Sturgeon Restoration project for the Saginaw Bay Watershed. Yearly sturgeon plants are planned for 4 rivers in our watershed, including the Cass. The next plant will occur at noon on August 24 near the rock ramp in Frankenmuth. A second plant will occur on September 21. Next Meeting: Wednesday, November 6, 2019 1:00 – 3:00PM At the Vassar City Office Bob Zeilinger May 3, 2019

Pa rks &125 W. Lincotn Street

Tusco la Cou ntyRecreation Commission

989.672.3700

Caro, Ml 48723

Robert W. McKay, ChairmanFax: 989.677.4011

www. tuscolacounty. org

Wednesdav. October 2. 2019

Thomas Bardwell, ChairmanTuscola County Board of CommissionersH.H. Purdy Building125 W Lincoln StreetCaro MI 48123

Hello Chairman Bardwell,

As you may recall, on March l4 of this year, I appeared before the Tuscola County Board ofCommissioners in my capacity as Chairman of the Tuscola County Parks and RecreationCommission. My appearance was at the request of the Board of Commissioners to presentissues pertaining to Vanderbilt County Park and Campground as well as the Tuscola CountyParks and Recreation Commission itself. One of those issues was the problem our Commissionfaces with respect to the lack of knowing the actual boundaries of the park in the absence of acurrent and accurate legal survey being available to our Commission.

Since that time, I have been in touch with Surveyor Ken Dunton who conducted the last surveywhich was done in 1991 . He is aware of errors in the last survey which did not take into accounta Tuscola County Circuit Courl decision in 1953 which redefined some of the boundary in theoriginal deeding of the property to Tuscola County.

The relevant portion of Surveyor Dunton's July 20, 2019 response to me reads as follows:

"To answer your question below, there were sutne\ stakes set by me back in 1991 but even u

few years later, sorne of them had already been destroyed. If my memory serves me correctly,almost all of Gilmore Road from the East to West property lines is on park property.

The unimproved portion of road along the Northwest side of the park, some is on park proper\)and some is on a parcel west of the park. I do not know if ownership of this gnp parcel was everdetermined.

There is still the question oJ the ownership of the road from Quanicassee Road to the park. Ina 1938law suite (sic), it w,as given to the Board of Contntissioners but never conveyed to the

Rocrd Commission in 1953 when they v;ere Certifiing Public Countl, Roads.

The total strip of uncertified road is altproximately 1800 feet long and in my opinion, it wouldbe best if this strip was re-surveyed and the actttal position of the existing road was accuratelyplotted on that survey (as) it would give the county something to work with rather then (sic)guessing what should or could be done and where."

At the August I meeting of the Tuscola County Parks and Recreation Commission, a motionwas passed unanimously which read,"that the Tuscola County Board oJ'Commissioners is

requested to engage a professional land surveyor to suney the Tuscola County real propert,tknown as Vanderbilt County Park and Campground." This communication with you may betaken as that request since without knowing the precise boundaries of Vanderbilt County Parkand Campground, the Tuscola County Perks and Recreation Commission cannot proceed withrecommending general improvements in that area of the park or future grant submissions whichrequire the park boundary to be defined accurately and precisely.

Tuscola County Parks andRecreation Commission

Attachments: 1) July 14, 1938, conveyance of property from Frank and Arnelia Vanderbilt toTuscola County; 2) April 23, 1953 Tuscola County Circuit Court decree which redefineserroneous legal description in 1938 deed; 3) map from 1991 Dunton surveybased on 1938 deedbut failing to incorporate details from 1953 court decree.

Tuscola County Parks & Recreation Commission Mission Statement

The mission of the Tuscola County Parks & Recreation Commission is to advise the Tuscola County Board of Commissioners on

mafters of policy and practice pertaining to the encouragement, establishment, and provision of recreational opportunities forresidents of, and visitors to, Tuscola Countv.

Sincerely.