Summary
The Leelanau Township Parks and Recreation Committee met on December 17, 2025 at 5:30pm with members Tom Mayhew, Jon Thatcher, Julie Preneta, Elizabeth Schwind, Eric Potes, and Court Wengreen present, plus Dan Toole via Zoom and Facilities Manager Ian Dawkins. The committee approved the previous meeting minutes (motioned by Tom, seconded by Julie) and reviewed park projects, a proposed cell tower lease, and 2026 budget items. The next meeting is scheduled for January 21, 2026 at 5:30pm.
Public Comments
No public comments were made during the designated public comment periods (agenda items 2 and 7).
Parks and Recreation Matters
Woolsey Airport: Phase 1 is mostly complete and paused for winter; Phase 2 (mainly roof repair) will be bid soon. The Township had set aside $50,000, with hopes for additional funding. Several letters of support for Woolsey upgrades have been received. It was determined QR codes are impractical at the site; a pipe marker is preferred. SWAT contacted the state regarding historical funding, but Woolsey was deemed too small for most grants.
Braman Hill: Trail and skate park completion is postponed until spring.
Christmas Cove: No update yet on the resiliency grant.
Buster Dame: Resident Nancy S. requested more shelter, wind screens, and snow removal for the dog park. The committee noted snow removal already occurs regularly and favored a permanent, tasteful two- or three-sided wind structure over a temporary screen, likely to be addressed in spring. The Buster Dame building, used for bathrooms and Township storage, needs a new west wall and roof.
Omena Beach: A request was made to upgrade and improve the appearance of the pit toilet structure.
Infrastructure Projects
Verizon Wireless (VZW) proposed a lease for a 75x75 ft parcel to build a 60x60 ft pad with an 8ft fence for a 190 ft tower at Braman Hill, paying $900/month for an estimated 5–10 years. If the Township Board approves, further surveying and Planning Commission approval would follow; if denied, the process ends. The tower would improve service for more residents but would not fully resolve coverage issues in the far north of the Township. Use of Braman Hill would not be impeded. A Township Board decision is still a couple of months away; the committee stated more information is needed before making a recommendation. A second tower option at the current site was also mentioned for further consideration.
Other Business
Officer positions for 2026 were discussed; Jon Thatcher is stepping down as chair, and a new chair is needed, to be addressed at the January meeting. The 2026 calendar was set for the third Wednesday of each month at 5:30pm, including a meeting on July 8, 2026.
Financial Summary
Budget items proposed for 2026 include: an additional $5,000 for the bike path (on top of $2,500 remaining), Skatelite finish for the skate park, and a maintenance budget for each park. Sealing of the Buster Dame basketball courts is already budgeted and needs no additional allocation. $50,000 was previously set aside for Woolsey Airport Phase 2 roof repairs, with hope for more funding.
Action Items
Bid out Woolsey Airport Phase 2 (roof repair) as soon as possible. Gather more information on the proposed VZW cell tower lease before the committee makes a recommendation to the Township Board. Determine a permanent wind screen solution for the Buster Dame dog park in spring. Address building repairs (west wall, roof) at Buster Dame. Select a new committee chair for 2026 at the January 21, 2026 meeting.