Woodhull park board still waiting on ROWE rec plan, plans ballfield spraying

The five-year parks and recreation plan Woodhull Township hired ROWE to write still was not in hand on July 20, and the public presentation the park board had penciled in for late July did not happen. "Currently waiting on finalized recreation plan from ROWE before presenting to the public," the commission's July 20 minutes say.

The Current reported this month that the Woodhull Township Park and Recreation Commission's June 9 minutes pushed the recreation plan public hearing to late July. The July minutes, posted this month, show the delay ran longer than that. They give no new date.

Three of the commission's five members were at the 6:30 p.m. meeting at Township Hall, 7315 Beard Rd.: Treasurer Chelsea Moore, Secretary Alyson Bawks and Trustee Keith Young. Chairman Katie Drury and Trustee Adam Witzel were absent. The agenda and the June 9 minutes were each approved on 3-0 votes.

On the ballfields, Park Facilities Manager Kirt Wilson reported to the board by text that all responsibilities were being completed as usual, and raised the need for upkeep including weed control after the season ended in mid-July, according to the minutes. Secretary Bawks then moved to contact Jerry Bawks about spraying the fields for approximately $200 to $250 for the season, as long as his license is still good, and to call TruGreen to do the work by the beginning of August if it is not. The minutes record no second and no vote on that motion.

The commission approved the budget as presented on a 3-0 vote, on Trustee Young's motion seconded by Treasurer Moore, but conditioned it on verifying with the township $1,620 allocated from Miscellaneous and Repair. The minutes do not say what that money was for.

Under new business, Trustee Young said BSN Sports had left him a voicemail about the recreation plan and that it would be dismissed because the board went with ROWE. Treasurer Moore said she would inquire about bringing an ice cream truck to the area for the last summer event, with a firetruck and/or a foam event among the end-of-summer ideas. Secretary Bawks raised a fall pumpkin-painting activity at the park, said she would look into buying or getting pumpkins donated, and said she would find options for a portable pickleball net for the playground basketball area. No public comment was offered at either opportunity. The meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m.

What happens next: the minutes list the commission's next meeting as Aug. 10 at 6:30 p.m. at Township Hall. Still unanswered from these records are whether the ballfields were sprayed and by whom, what ROWE is being paid, and when the finished recreation plan will be put before residents.