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Local News

Hastings five year recreation plan adopted, council member calls for extensive corrections

The Hastings City Council held a hearing Monday to take public comments or suggestions on the five year Parks and Recreation Master Plan and passed a resolution approving it.

There was no comment from the public, but there was by Councilwoman Brenda McNabb-Stange.

Saying she was going to be very blunt, McNabb-Stange said: “This is one of the worst documents I’ve ever seen. I would be embarrassed to send this to the state.”

 

She noted the document was inconsistent in format, “really, really sloppy,” She pointed out a reference to a table that sent readers to page three that was found on page nine, many typos, and said the projects identified in the plan were hundreds of thousands of dollars more than the budget. “I’m not agreeing to this.”

 

She also noted a list of corrections she had asked for in the draft agreement hadn’t been done.

City Manager Jeff Mansfield said as long as the content was agreeable, they could approve it and correct the errors she listed.

 

There were formatting and grammar that need to be cleaned up, he agreed, but if the content is what they want, they could adopt it. “It accomplishes the goal.” They have the projects they need in it to be accepted by the state and qualify for grants from the DNR and DEQ, he said. The motion to approve was 8-1 with McNabb-Stange dissenting.

 

 

David Solmes, representing the Hastings Rotary and Hastings Kiwanis, asked for approval of the agreement for the civic clubs to again operate the concession stand at the Thornapple Plaza’s 2019 entertainment events, including the sale of beer and wine.

 

A separate request on the serving of alcohol will be added to the agreement after McNabb Stange pointed out it was just a request that was approved and should be part of a legal agreement. Changes in the document say that wine and beer will be sold later during the entertainment and instead of a two drink limit there will be no limit.

 

Solmes agreed to revert to the original request without the changes if there were any problems, but said there have been no problems in the past.

 

In other business, the council approved an hourly pay increase for election workers from $9.25 to $15 an hour and increases the ward chairperson’s pay from $30.70 to $50, plus hourly wages, in time for the May election.

 

Deputy City Manager Jerry Czarnecki said the city has barely enough workers to cover elections; the change would hopefully attract more people to work the 16-hour day. Other jurisdictions were also discussing raising the pay of election workers, he said.

 

Also, the first hearing on Ordinance 563 affecting the operation of the Riverside Cemetery was held; several questions were discussed; the council will hold a second hearing at its next meeting and take action on it.

 

The council approved the use of Bob King and Fish Hatchery Park by the YMCA for spring and summer recreational activities and a Very Barry Event hosted by the Barry Intermediate School District at Tyden Park on June 8.

 

They also held a workshop at 6 p.m. before the regular meeting to talk about goals and objectives for the draft budget for the coming year and set a “follow up” budget workshop for 6 p.m. on Feb. 11.

 

 

 

 

 

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