Parks and Lands Minutes May 5, 2022

Town of Bell Parks and Lands Meeting Minutes

May 5, 2022       9:30 am       Cornucopia Community Center

Committee Members Present: Doug Becker, Judy Becker, Gordon Anderson

Others Present: Judy Kerr, Greg Weiss, Supervisor Allan Hahn, Jason Bodine, Lindley Mattson

Supervisor Gordon Anderson called the meeting to order at 9:35 am.

Doug Becker made a motion to approve the April minutes; seconded by Judy Becker. Approved.

Agenda:

  1. Nominations for Committee Chair and Member-at-large (position 1)
    1. Judy Becker nominated Doug Becker as Chair; seconded by Gordon Anderson. Passed. New Chair Doug Becker ran the rest of the meeting.
    2. Committee recommended Greg Weiss for Position 1 to be submitted to the Town for approval.
  2. Budget Review – current information not available.
  3. Siskiwit River Preserve projects presentation by Jason Bodine (Forest Administrator, Bayfield County) and Lindley Mattson (Recreational Department, Bayfield County)
    1. See Project Timeline pages 1 & 2 HERE
    2. Public / Private events need a county permit; no camping or overnight parking.
    3. Greg Weiss suggested a dog park be considered.
    4. Concerns were expressed about potential inadequate parking, vault toilet weekly maintenance.
  4. Kayaking Event
    1. Greg Weiss presented details of the Freshwater Paddlers Rendezvous on Sept. 15-18, 2022.
      1. Greg will request the event be placed on the Town agenda with the map of designated areas for: launching, day use (no overnight camping), parking, water craft staging, boat demos, vendor displays, communal gatherings.
      2. Garbage removal by Lost Creek Adventures; insurance, Portapotties, communal meals, first aide, etc. will be provided by event coordinators.
  • Event permit is $100/day.
  1. Memorial Trail near airport
    1. Possible site for memorial bench donated by Harry Kellogg family.
    2. Phase One – walk and flag first loop (Harry Kellogg Loop); cut and clear trail; set up trail head plus limited, temporary parking near Recycling Center; install information sign.
    3. Phase Two – add loop(s) (Bill Sloan Loop, etc.); parking lot and trail head off Birch Hill Road; benches, picnic tables, nature trail signs could be considered.
    4. Ask for assistance from County and Trail Clubs.
  2. National Scenic Byway project update
    1. Gordon Anderson and Judy Becker updated the current status of the project. Randy Lund will be paid by the Town to work with CS Designs as the engineering consultant and do site analysis. Town Chair, Roger Lindgren was expected to sign the contract with CS Designs for the architectural design.
  3. Campground
    1. Maintenance – committee will do a site inspection in the next few weeks.
    2. Sites changes
      1. 1,2 3 signs will be removed; day use only.
      2. Sites 4 & 5 will be tent camping only.
  • Sites 6 & 10 are the largest sites for RV’s; sites 7,8 & 9 are for smaller RV’s.
  1. All sites can also be used for tent camping.
  1. Fee envelopes – wording on the fee envelopes was modified to reflect changes; Judy Kerr will order new fee envelopes.
  2. Vault toilet grant update – Doug Becker reported that the Huffcutt quote for the code compliant Mallard Unit was $51,000; this did not include site preparation, grading and landscaping; Gordon Anderson volunteered to get a quote to construct a less expensive structure for the grant budget.
  3. Watercraft launching – Doug Becker will approach Lost Creek Adventures about installing a “launch platform” by the beach stairs to help prevent further erosion and reinstate watercraft launching at campground beach.
  4. Day use fee tabled at this time.
  5. Judy Kerr will continue to seek commitment from last year’s Campground Hosts about returning.
  6. Siskiwit Lake Boat Launch
    1. Doug inspected east side parking and reported 4 good sites for cars with trailers; west side is to be marked No Parking.
    2. Doug Becker will install the launch donation box; Judy Kerr will create the sign. Judy will also order a Doggie Pot for animal waste at launch area; Doug will install.
  7. Town Parks and Lands Maintenance report
    1. Matt Hipsher will open Beach restrooms after marina is fully operational for the season. Judy Kerr will open Superior Avenue PortaPotty soon.
    2. Gordon Anderson will inspect playground equipment and picnic tables
    3. Doug Becker will inspect Corny Beach chairs and life rings by breakwall walkway.
  8. Forestry Report – Allan Hahn sent Forestry report to committee for review.
  9. Transient Vendor ordinance – no report

Next meeting will be on Friday, June 3 at 9:30am at the Community Center.

Meeting was adjourned at 11:30 am.

Submitted by Secretary, Judy Becker, on May 6, 2022.

 

Posted in Parks Minutes 2022