Summary
The Leelanau Township Parks and Recreation Committee met January 17, 2024, with Bob Featherly, Dan Toole, Jon Thatcher, and Mike McMillan present; Court Wengreen, Kristi Holmstrom, and Denise Dunn were absent. The meeting ran from 5:33pm to 7:21pm. Previous minutes were approved. The main focus was an update on the Woolsey Airport/Mud Lake Terminal Building preservation project presented to the Township Board, along with a review of Five Year Plan priorities for the township's parks.
Public Comments
No public comment was offered at this Committee meeting (noted under both agenda items 2 and 7). However, Dan Toole reported that at the Township Board meeting where the Woolsey Airport project was presented, three individuals spoke during public comment. They agreed the project was a priority but proposed that the Township develop an overall Capital Investment Plan (CIP) in which this project would be listed as a priority alongside others. This was a resident proposal, not a Board decision, and may be raised again in future public comments.
Parks and Recreation Matters
Bob Featherly led review of the Five Year Plan's 2023 priorities per park. He noted that action items called for developing a masterplan for all five parks: Braman Hill Recreation Area, Peterson Park, Buster Dane Park, Omena Beach Park, and Christmas Cove Beach, in addition to the Woolsey Airfield/Mudd Lake project. After discussion, the Committee agreed to focus on actions that can be completed now rather than drafting individual master plans at this time.
Infrastructure Projects
Dan Toole reported that Mark Kruger, introduced by Bob Featherly, gave a presentation to the Township Board on the Woolsey Airport/Mud Lake Terminal Building preservation and rehabilitation project. The Board passed a motion committing to proceed with urgent preservation and rehabilitation, and gave initial (not final) agreement to allocate up to $100,000. The funding proposal is now posted for public comment, with a possible vote at the February Township Board meeting. At least $300,000 must be secured by June for the project to move forward this year. There was interest in expanded future use of the building (e.g., heat, indoor toilets), which Mark Kruger confirmed is possible, though the Committee is not yet ready to recommend those additional resources. There was strong support for a public/private fundraising campaign once the Board approves the plan. The Township Clerk confirmed some funds have already been received directly by the Township; the amount raised through the LTCF was not yet known. Mike McMillan agreed to check on aligning the P&R Plan with the new Township Master Plan, which does not currently include the Woolsey Airport Terminal.
Financial Summary
The Township Board gave initial agreement to allocate up to $100,000 toward the Woolsey Airport Terminal project. At least $300,000 total must be in place by June to proceed this year. Funding is currently posted for public comment, with a possible Board vote in February. Some funds have already come in directly to the Township, and additional amounts may have been raised through the LTCF, though the total was unknown at the time of the meeting.
Action Items
- Committee members may submit public comment to the Township Board supporting the proposed $100,000 budget allocation for the Woolsey Airport Terminal project.
- Mike McMillan to check on the process for aligning the P&R Plan with the new Township Master Plan, which does not currently include the Woolsey Airport Terminal.
- Next meeting scheduled for February 21, 2024.