OSCEOLA COUNTY PARKS COMMISSION

December 11, 2007

Morris Langworthy, Chairman called the meeting of the Osceola County Parks Commission to order at 6:08 p.m.

Present: Elmo Hoaglund, Morris Langworthy, Jr., Don Lewis, Jerry Powell, Ron Thompson, Rich Jacobs, Jim Maturen, Mark Brock and Tom VanEpps.

Absent: Alan Tiedt.

Park Personnel: Jim Wolfe, Julie Homan, and Richard & Merry Cook.

Others: None

Pledge to the Flag was given.

Additions and Deletions to the Agenda. Motion by Elmo Hoaglund, supported by Don Lewis to approve the agenda with additions. Motion carried unanimously.

PUBLIC COMMENTS – None.

Approval of Prior Minutes. Motion by Jim Maturen, supported by Elmo Hoaglund to approve the minutes of October 11, 2007 as presented. Motion carried unanimously.

FINANCIAL REPORT: Julie Homan gave the following financial report. Park balances as of December 11, 2007 were as follows: Revenues - $229,971.52, Expenditures - $248,790.61, Citizens Bank Balances - $83,801.96, and cash on hand with the County Treasurer office of $8,499.31. Julie reported on small claims of Matt Steig was paid in full and Joann Gugle is paying $50.00 every other week to pay balance; Rhonda Avery owes $338.67 from the Rose Lake Store utilities; and questions were raised regarding the maps of Rose Lake and Crittenden and the brochures reporting an improper amount of sites.

Mark Brock arrived at 6:35.

DIRECTOR’S REPORT: Jim Wolfe reported on the following items:

Five Year Plan: Jim Wolfe reported on the changes to the 5 Year Plan as discussed with the Finance Committee at the November meeting and updating the plan with the Finance Committee’s recommendations. For Rose Lake, the electrical upgrade for sections G and H, the well maintenance and capping the vacant well in section C, redo the store and office electrical, roof on the store and office, roof on one pavilion, and redo the drains in the main bathroom and check drain field for effectiveness, totaling cost is $26,000. For Crittenden, roof on office, inspection on the well and filter system, upgrade store electrical and payment # 4 of restroom loan, totaling cost is $13,100. Capitol budget discussed regarding the shortage of funds in the 2008 budget to accomplish the items mentioned.

Safety Plan: Jim Wolfe discussed his desire to have the safety plan completed and available for the Commissioners review by the next meeting.

Rules Revisions: Jim Wolfe expressed the need to revise the rules and regulations and to simplify and make them easier to read. After discussions to the desired changes, a motion was made by Elmo Hoaglund, supported by Mark Brock to approve the changes to the rules and regulations for the Osceola County Parks as recorded. Motion carried unanimously.

FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT: No report given.

PERSONNEL COMMITTEE REPORT: Chairman Mark Brock gave the following Personnel Committee report from the December 4, 2007 meeting. The park guidelines, park evaluations, bonus incentives, the director’s evaluation process, and unemployment claims were reviewed. After reviewing these items, it was decided to have the Personnel Committee develop guidelines to present to the full Commission for review. Mark moved for accept the evaluation of Julie Homan, Elmo Hoaglund supported, motion carried unanimously.

Osceola County Parks Commission Meeting

December 11, 2007 Page 2

OLD BUSINESS:

Sunrise Lake Lease: The lease was sent to James Thomson attorney for review. His response to the lease was read, with discussion regarding the lined out items and added language being of the best interest of the Osceola County parks and should be implemented. A copy of the lease with the Osceola County Parks adjustments was sent to the DNR on November 2, 2007 and to date no response has been received. Tom VanEpps discussed his correspondence with Keith Charter, Chairman DNR NRC, Governor Granholm, and his conversations with Rick Johnson, Darwin Booher and Patrick Tiedt regarding the Sunrise Lake lease. Discussion revolved around not operating Sunrise Lake Park in the 2008 season with out the long term lease signed and having Osceola County Parks Commission attend the next DNR NCR meetings and being placed on the agenda for review of the lease. Two motions were made regarding the Sunrise Lake Park.

A motion was made by Jim Maturen, supported by Jerry Powell to not re-enter into a one-year lease with the State DNR for operation of the Sunrise Lake Park for the 2008 season and the campground will not open to the public under the Osceola County Parks jurisdiction. The motion carried unanimously.

A motion was made by Elmo Hoaglund, supported by Jerry Powell for the Osceola County Parks to open the Sunrise campground in 2008, they will need the acceptance of the Sunrise Lake Surface Use Lease L-9825 between the State of Michigan DNR and Osceola County with a 25 year lease and a 25 year option to renew and to agree with the terms and specifications set forth by the Osceola County Parks Commission. The motion carried unanimously.

Jim Maturen left the meeting at 8:40.

Rose Lake Electrical Upgrade Quote: The quote for the Rose Lake Electrical upgrade project was presented for acceptance. A motion was made by Elmo Hoaglund, supported by Tom VanEpps to award the bid to J&C Electric of Hersey for $9,580.23. The motion carried unanimously.

NEW BUSINESS:

Letters and memos of interest were received at the parks. The parks will adopt the 50.5 cents mileage reimbursement for 2008; the letter for campers regarding making reservations in January for the 2008 season was presented; the DNR survey for development of a new Strategic Plan was discussed; a letter from the Dept of Ag was received regarding Gingrich Meadows; a letter from the Central Mich. Health Dept regarding the Rose Lake store having an unlicensed food operation was reviewed; and spreadsheets showing the issuance of permits for the 2006 season and the 2007 season and their variances were discussed.

Park Director Evaluation/Resignation: A motion was made by Tom VanEpps, supported by Elmo Hoaglund to accept the resignation of the Parks Director Jim Wolfe effective March 31, 2008. The motion carried unanimously.

Jim Wolfe was asked if he wanted his Parks Director evaluation to be discussed in open session and he stated it was fine for open session. The evaluation was reviewed regarding the changes the Personnel Committee made regarding the evaluation and the 5 factors that broke down the Parks Directors job description. The evaluation was discussed at all levels with the commissioners. An overall evaluation was not given because of the little direction received by the Personnel Committee. The board asked the Personnel Committee to review the evaluation form and bring back a revised form. Jim Wolfe believes the evaluation to be fair.

A motion by Elmo Hoaglund supported by Don Lewis to accept the 2007 Parks Director evaluation presented by the Personnel Committee. The motion carried unanimously.

Osceola County Parks Commission Meeting

December 11, 2007 Page 3

Park Manager Comments: Richard Cook spoke of the need for the Rose Lake home to be painted and other minor repairs needed and he would like to complete them prior to moving into the home in April. He spoke of the poor maintenance of the Rose Lake equipment.

The board would like to see written instructions on the proper use of opening and closing the parks for the season and to have the managers verify in writing that all maintenance of building and equipment was handled properly. The board would also like to see a policy for inventory removal to be presented at the next meeting.

Motion by Mark Brock, supported by Elmo Hoaglund to adjourn at 8:35 p.m. Motion carried.

Respectfully submitted,

______________________________________

Julie Homan – Executive Secretary/Bookkeeper

Draft until approved at the next Osceola County Parks Commission Meeting