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Local News

Charlton Park request for second millage try split into two proposals

Barry County Commissioners did not approve a Charlton Park millage request to go on the November ballot, this time with a smaller millage amount and shorter length of time. The new proposal was for 0.35 additional mills for seven years. The current millage, 0.2254 mills expires this December.

 

Commissioners instead approved two proposals; one to renew the present millage of 0.2254 for seven years, which will raise $449.615 the first year, and a second proposal for 0.1246 mills, also for seven years, which is expected to raise about $248,000 the first year. If voters approve both proposals, the park will still get the lesser request; 0.35 mills for seven years for operations, repair and maintenance of the park.

 

Voters turned down a 10-year, 0.3750 mill request, 4,910 to 4,435 to fund the park in the Aug. 2 primary.

 

Commissioner Craig Stolsonburg said if both parts of the millage fail in November, “then, we (the county commission) get it.” Charlton Park director Dan Patton said if the county were responsible, the park would seek funds from the county’s delinquent tax, building rehab and technology funds.

 

“That would not preclude a special election in 2017,” he said. The park board held a special election in 2010, when the current millage passed, that cost the park $40,000, he added. With renewal of just the existing millage, staff cuts would have to be made and badly needed maintenance to roofs and 20-year-old septic pumps could not be done, Patton said. //

 

He didn’t know how it would effect the education programs, where thousands of school children from schools in and out of Barry County visit the park every year to learn about history.

 

”Voters want choices,” Commissioner Ben Geiger said later. “That's why I've consistently supported splitting the Charlton Park proposal into separate ballot questions. I'm pleased my colleagues agree, and will give Barry County voters more choices in November.” An amendment by Commissioner Jim Dull to earmark the additional millage for repair and maintenance for existing buildings only failed with a tie vote.

Commissioners Dull, Vivian Conner and Howard Gibson voted “yes.” Commissioners Jon Smelker, Stolsonburg and Ben Geiger voted “no,” with David Jackson absent.

 

Staff payroll accounts for 56 percent of the park budget, and the, “only increase in staff would be two part-time employees for a more dependable staff…everyone agrees the current millage rate is not sustainable long term,” Patton said.

 

In public comment, Chuck Reid and Eldon Shellenbarger said the voters have spoken and the latest proposal should not be approved. “If they can’t operate on .25 mills, in my opinion, the park should be sold,” Shellenbarger said. “I thought Carlton Park would be self supporting by now,” Reid said.

 

Charlton Park Board President Rick Moore thought the millage failure was due to lack of getting its message to the public, low turnout at the primary and the position of the request on the ballot where people didn’t see it.

 

He said a committee to get ”the truth and information” out is being formed, the general election always draws a much higher percentage of voters and the cost to taxpayers, for what they get, is a very small $17 to $18 a year.

 

Expenses continually go up and, “upkeep keeps getting worse, and worse and worse,” Moore said. “We get a budget every month to see what we need for survival…it would be difficult if not impossible to survive on the currant millage.”

 

In other business Aug. 9, the commissioners approved recommendations from the committee of the whole meeting last week, including:

 

* a resolution pledging the full faith and credit of Barry County for $1.4 million in bonds for 15 years to pay for the county’s share of repair work on the Cuddy Drain. The bonds will be paid through special assessments on county property owners and corporations in the Drainage District.

 

* a bid of $60,992 from Customized Cleaning Service to install epoxy flooring at the Barry County Sheriff’s Office in the lobby, public rest rooms, public visitation, control one, and the east, south and west wings of the jail.

 

* the Hastings City Barry County Airport Commission spending $157,900 from its reserves for a hanger to be built by Stedfast Construction, Inc. to accommodate corporate jets and turbine planes.

 

* the purchase of two boat motors for the Barry County Sheriff’s Marine Division for $10, 098.92, paid for by the sale of two  personal watercraft and trailers for $10, 201.49, with a difference of $102.57 that will go to other marine equipment.

 

* accepting the cash value of $11,475 from its insurer, Michigan Municipal Risk Management Authority, for a 2010 Ford Taurus totaled in an accident, and $24,000 to purchase a new vehicle for the Unified Trial Court through MiDEAL.

 

* an application to the Farmland and Open Space Preservation Program (PA 116) for Jeffrey and Stacey Morton in Section 11 of Hastings Township.

 

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