Village Park, Belleville largest city park, will be getting a shelter and several outdoor fitness stations.
At its regular meeting June 4, the City Council approved an agreement with Wayne County for a total of $18,000 for the park amenities, coming from the parks millage paid by taxpayers throughout Wayne County.
The steel picnic shelter or resting station is estimated to cost $16,000, with about $2,000 for outdoor fitness equipment.
In a letter to the county, City Manager Diane Kollmeyer said if the city can get the shelter up for less, any remaining funds will be used to purchase additional fitness equipment.
Kollmeyer told the council that earlier this year the county called and said the city will have $18,000 in parks funding and so she, the mayor, DPW Director, Downtown Development Authority director, and Parks and Recreation Commission sat down to figure out what to do with the money.
She said they decided a small, indestructible shelter and workout stations would be good, so they moved forward.
Councilman Brian Blackburn said the playground equipment at Village Park is in dire need of replacement. Kollmeyer said that would cost from $100,000 to $125,000 and the county will not be giving out big grants like that again. The county now is giving little grants to communities, she said.
Former City Councilman George Chedraue said while he thinks it is great to improve the parks, he is confused. He said the city is wanting to tear the skate park down because drug dealing is going on there.
“What’s to keep them from moving from the skate park to the new shelter?” he asked.
Kollmeyer said the problem with the skatepark is that it’s not visible and Village Park is mostly visible. She said this is the city’s largest park and it’s totally undeveloped.
Chedraue pointed out that they haven’t determined where the workout stations will be, so they can’t say they will be visible.
Councilwoman Kim Tindall said she has the same concerns as Chedraue. If the stations will be put back by the pond, it is difficult to see from the road.
Mayor Pro Tem Jack Loria said that residents in some of the homes can see the back areas and if the moms and dads see problems, they will call the police.
“I think it will be self-policing,” Loria said.
“The more people who use it, the more it will police itself,” Kollmeyer said of the park.
When it was time to vote on the contract with the county, Mayor Kerreen Conley reminded the council that she will be abstaining on any votes concerning Wayne County since she is employed by the county. She was authorized to sign the contract, however.
In other business at Monday’s meeting, the council:
• Approved the closing a portion of High Street for Grace Baptist Church’s annual Fourth of July picnic from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., so children can play without worrying about traffic by the church;
• Approved an updated fee schedule, which includes an increase to $50 for a resident to have the mayor conduct a wedding ceremony, $75 for non-residents, and $100 for out-of-town ceremonies;
• Rescinded Ordinance 01-018 on rules and regulations Police Reserves that was enacted during Police Chief Paul Davis’ leadership and includes criminal penalties for not following rules. Other policies and procedures still govern the Reserves;
• Approved recognizing BAARC (Belleville Area Animal Rescue Committee) as a non-profit, 501c3 group so it can get a permit from the state to hold a raffle during Strawberry Festival;
• Heard Kollmeyer say she still hasn’t heard from Wayne County about closing the skate park;
• Heard a report on the use of K-2 (Spice) from Tom Fielder, who is chairman of Growth Works. Recent cases have brought the dangerous substance into public view. He said Growth Works is trying to form a pilot program with Livonia to work on the economics of selling the substance, to make anyone who sells it brought to the public attention. Signs saying this business does not sell K-2 have been working in Oakland County. Fielder said that Ken Brooks who is active with Growth Works, said Van Buren Township sent out the undercover officers throughout the township and found K-2 was sold everywhere. It currently is legal. Fielder said the state has a pot of medicare money available to treat youth who are addicted, but the Wayne County Executive has determined once the youth is in the jurisdiction of the juvenile justice system, he is no longer eligible for medicare and the money should be applied to the prisoner’s debt for incarceration;
• Approved accounts payable of $258,103.98 and the following departmental purchases in excess of $500: to McCoig Concrete, $698 for foundations in the cemetery; and to GMS Sealcoating, $1,700 for restriping, paid by general fund and DDA;
• Heard Mayor Conley announce that Diana Kollmeyer had marked 14 years working for the city last Friday. Mayor Conley, who was then city manager, hired Kollmeyer to be clerk;
• Heard resident John Juriga, who is also a member of the district library board, remind the council that the board president had asked the city to donate property some time ago and never got a response. “I think we need closure on this issue,” Juriga said and Mayor Conley replied, “I agree”;
• Heard Fire Chief Brian Loranger report that 24 people took a boater safety class at the fire hall sponsored by BYC and put on by the Coast Guard Auxiliary;
• Went into executive session to discuss pending litigation and then came out into open session to approve the MMRMA (insurance) attorney’s recommendation to negotiate a settlement in the slip and fall case of Dorothea Hollis vs. City of Belleville. The complainant said she fell on the city sidewalk by the Chase bank drive-up; and
• Went back into executive session to consider a communication from the city attorney which is subject to attorney-client privilege.