April 12, 2017

County Parks Board Meeting Announcement

Administrative Offices:  St. Patrick’s 50651 Laurel Road TO: MEMBERS OF THE ST. JOSEPH COUNTY PARKS BOARD South Bend, IN 46637 574/277-4828 Fax: 574/273-2334

 Bendix Woods MEDIA FRIENDS 32132 SR 2 New Carlisle, IN 46552 574/654-3155 Fax: 574/654-3674

 Ferrettie/Baugo Creek The St. Joseph County Parks Board will hold its monthly board 57057 Ash Road Osceola, IN 46561 meeting on April 18, 2017 at 9 a.m. at Bendix Woods County Park, 574/674-9765 Fax: 574/674-9778 Van Paris Shelter.

 Spicer Lake County Line Road New Carlisle 574/654-0361 Board Members: If you cannot attend, please notify Kelley Herrera Fax: 574/654-3155 or Evie Kirkwood as soon as possible at 277-4828.

NOTICE OF MEETING

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY PARKS BOARD Tuesday, 9:00 a.m., April 18, 2017, Bendix Woods County Park Van Paris Shelter, 32132 State Road 2, New Carlisle, Indiana 46552

AGENDA

I CALL MEETING TO ORDER II Administrative Update, presentation on fishing programs by Jamie Hartzke, Leisure Services Manager, and discussion of Give Local Challenge Match with Pete Jank, president, Bike Michiana Coalition.

III CONSENT Agenda: MINUTES & MEMORANDA, CLAIMS, STATUS OF PARKS REPORTS (including Administrative, ILS, Disposals, Budget/Donations, Attendance and New Hires)

IV OLD BUSINESS a. LaSalle Trail Update V NEW BUSINESS

VI Delegations

VII ADJOURN

Next Parks Board Meeting: May 16, 2017 – Ferrettie/Baugo Creek County Park, Interpretive Center – 9:00 am

April 2017 SJC Parks Board Packet Page 2 Minutes & Memoranda of the St. Joseph County Parks Board March 21, 2017 The St. Joseph County Parks Board met at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 21, 2017, at St. Patrick’s County Park, White Barn, Harvest Room, 50651 Laurel Road, South Bend, Indiana.

Board members present: Larry Catanzarite, Virginia Calvin, John Ferrettie, John Gleissner

Board members unable to attend: Donna Pfeil, Tom Panzica

Staff present: Evie Kirkwood, Director; Steve Slauson, Deputy Director; Kelley Herrera, Administrative Manager & Recording Secretary

Press in attendance: None

Delegations: Jim Goodhew, St. Joseph County Parks Foundation Board

Call to Order: President Larry Catanzarite brought the meeting to order at 9:17 am.

ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATE/GIVE LOCAL UPDATE Ms. Kirkwood mentioned that Purdue Extension Service is currently accepting applications for the position previously held by Phil Sutton, who retired at the end of January. She stated that they are aware that the person who fills that position serves as an ex officio member of the Parks Board.

Ms. Kirkwood then introduced Jim Goodhew from the Parks Foundation Board to discuss this year’s Give Local fundraising event on May 9, 2017. Mr. Goodhew thanked the Parks Board for 100% participation in the first Give Local campaign in 2015 and asked for the board’s support again this year. He stated that we have received a $15K challenge match from Bike Michiana Coalition to help raise the local match needed to fully fund Phases 2 and 3 of the LaSalle Trail. We will again be promoting support for children’s nature programs as well as reaching out to community members and businesses with an interest in seeing the LaSalle Trail completed.

Ms. Kirkwood noted that in 2015 the Foundation Board had decided to direct all funds raised through Give Local into the permanent endowment to build that fund to a level that would begin to yield significant annual interest. She stated that the Give Local rules require participating organizations to deposit a minimum of 25% of funds raised into their endowments, but may use the remaining amount for current needs. The Foundation Board has not yet decided how to designate the funds raised this year, however, they recognize that the $15K challenge match and first $15K of gifts received to earn that match will be directed to the LaSalle Trail project.

Mr. Goodhew also shared that the Foundation Board will be hosting two “Coffee with the Eagles” events in May, inviting business and philanthropic leaders in the community to ND-LEEF at St. Patrick’s County Park. He stated that these will be informational and relationship-building events to gather ideas on how the Foundation can develop a stronger plan for building its donor base and reaching out to individuals and organizations for support.

Ms. Calvin stated that she was proud of the work done by the Foundation board to advance their mission and make significant progress in building the endowment. Mr. Catanzarite concurred and asked Mr. Goodhew to pass on the thanks of the Parks board to all members of the Foundation board for their dedication to the Parks and making a lasting difference in the community.

Resuming the administrative update, Ms. Kirkwood briefly summarized non-agenda items. She stated that the Parks, in partnership with Notre Dame, had recently received an award from Great Lakes Parks Training Institute for ND-LEEF. She noted that Tales to Trails, a program funded by a donor and Gift and Grant support, is underway which consists of a Parks interpreter visiting first-grade classrooms at Perley Elementary in South Bend for seven weeks, culminating in a field trip to Bendix Woods County Park. She mentioned that year-to-date attendance is up slightly despite having very little snow for the winter season, noting that the lack of snow likely contributed to an uptick in disc golf revenue.

St. Joseph County Parks Board Meeting Minutes & Memoranda |March 21, 2017 Page 1 of 3

April 2017 SJC Parks Board Packet Page 3 Minutes & Memoranda of the St. Joseph County Parks Board March 21, 2017

Ms. Kirkwood stated that the inventoried asset disposal request this month included a request for permission to sell a dump truck with plow and salt spreader and a flatbed trailer used with this truck. Mr. Slauson noted that this vehicle is rarely used, is costly to maintain and repair, and is the sole vehicle in our fleet that requires staff to hold a commercial driver license to operate it. He stated that the county attorney has given us permission to sell the truck and trailer on eBay Motors, and we plan to use the proceeds generated toward the purchase of equipment that better meets our regular needs. He noted that the estimated value of the items is likely in the range of $20K- $25K.

Directing the board’s attention to the Non-Reverting Budget Report (page 23 of the board packet), Ms. Kirkwood noted that the line for Innertubing, which is currently showing income, will show a loss once all refunds for private parties are paid out.

ACTION: Mr. Ferrettie moved to approve the Consent Agenda, including Minutes, Claims, Reports, Budgets, Disposals and New Hires. Ms. Calvin seconded. Motion passed unanimously by those present.

OLD BUSINESS Red Barn Roof Repairs: Mr. Slauson directed the board’s attention to pages 13-14 of the board packet, showing Kil Architecture’s recommendation of Midland Engineering for the Red Barn roof project and the accompanying tabulation of bids received. Mr. Slauson noted that the board granted permission to award the bid at the February meeting, thus this material is for informational purposes only. He stated that we expect to receive final approval for the project funding from the County Council on April 11, with the work expected to begin soon thereafter. He noted that we will have some funds remaining which we will use to replace the roof of the Van Paris shelter at Bendix Woods County Park. The Red Barn roof repair is expected to be completed by mid-May if there are no extensive weather delays.

LaSalle Trail Update/Hotel-Motel Tax Fund: Ms. Kirkwood stated that the letting date for Phase 2 of the LaSalle Trail (Darden to Auten) is April 5. She stated that Phase 3 (Auten to the IN-MI line) is targeted for 2018, however, we would like to see this moved up if a commitment for funding the local match can be secured by early May. She stated the construction schedule for the Niles portion has been impacted by the need to survey for the presence of endangered Indiana bats which affects when large trees can be felled to clear the land for the trail. We would be required to fell trees outside of the active nesting season (prior to April 1) or we would have to hire a bat biologist to check for roosting activity. (Note: County engineer Jessica Clark has subsequently confirmed that the USF&W Service has said that bats are not a concern on this stretch of the corridor.)

Ms. Kirkwood stated that we currently have a shortfall of roughly $22K for the local match for Phase 2, however, the Give Local fundraising event on May 9 is expected to meet this with the Bike Michiana Coalition challenge grant and funds that match it. She stated that Phase 3 will require a $259K local match and we have asked the County Council for the $225K available through the County Tourism Development Fund from the Hotel/Motel Board that is earmarked for tourism-related projects. If we are not successful with this request and do not have another source for the local match, we will not be able to move up the Phase 3 schedule. Ms. Kirkwood stated that we will be attending a Council committee meeting on March 28 to present our case for how the accelerated completion of Phase 3 would be beneficial to tourism across the county. Ms. Kirkwood stated that, to date, the Parks have provided approximately $860K in matching funds on the project, between the original Roseland phase and Phases 1 and 2. Mr. Slauson also noted that going forward we will have maintenance responsibility for the Trail despite continued cuts to our General Fund.

NEW BUSINESS Non-Reverting Appropriation Resolution 2-2017: A resolution increasing the appropriation for Uniforms and Contractual Services within the County Parks Non-Reverting Operating Fund.

St. Joseph County Parks Board Meeting Minutes & Memoranda |March 21, 2017 Page 2 of 3

April 2017 SJC Parks Board Packet Page 4 Minutes & Memoranda of the St. Joseph County Parks Board March 21, 2017 Ms. Kirkwood referred the board to Resolution 2-2017 on page 15 of the board packet.

ACTION: Ms. Calvin moved to approve Resolution 2-2017 as presented. Mr. Gleissner seconded. Motion passed unanimously by those present.

DELEGATIONS See Administrative Update section above.

ACTION: At 10:27 am, John Gleissner moved for adjournment, John Ferrettie seconded, and the March 2017 meeting of the SJC Parks Board was adjourned.

St. Joseph County Parks Board Meeting Minutes & Memoranda |March 21, 2017 Page 3 of 3

April 2017 SJC Parks Board Packet Page 5

Administrative Update 4/11/17 Submitted by Evie Kirkwood, Director; Steve Slauson, Deputy Director

Friends of SJCP/ Give Local Efforts for Give Local are proceeding with a mailing that went out to prior Give Local donors and an upcoming mailing for an additional

St. Joseph County 800 people on the County Parks assorted mailing lists. Bike Michiana Parks will enrich the Coalition delivered their $15,000 challenge match check to the community and the Community Foundation last week which will be dedicated to the lives of St. Joseph LaSalle Trail through the Give Local efforts. County residents by  conserving and caring for significant The Foundation will also host several “Coffee with the Eagles” on natural areas April 26, May 3 and May 4 for community stakeholders and donors.  promoting Members of Bike Michiana understanding and On behalf of the Parks Foundation, Evie submitted grants to NIPSCO stewardship of our Coalition on the LaSalle Trail unique natural and and South Bend Rotary for the LaSalle Trail. encouraging donations during cultural heritage Give Local SJC. through innovative programs and LaSalle Trail update services  and enhancing Following the Council Committee on March 28, the Council agreed to an early caucus on April 11 to visitor experiences settle on a dollar amount for the County Tourism Development Fund because they could not agree on through well‐ the amount to appropriate. Through the efforts of Bill Schalliol, Exec Director for Economic maintained park Development, Jessica Clark, County Engineer, and Evie and Steve a case was made to allocate the facilities. entire $225,000 fund to allow for the early letting of Phase 3. Ms. Clark projects some cost savings could occur if the final Phase is let this spring, advancing the trail completion by roughly a year.

Selge was selected as the approved low bidder for construction on Phase 2, and the bid came in approximately $120,000 below projected expenses.

Request to clarify budget discrepancy In January, Jodi Sass, our finance leader noticed that the CEDIT funds appropriated to the County Parks was $3,000 lower than what was approved at budget hearings, and approved by the park board. All budget paperwork that we signed off on as part of the budget process appears to include the original $3000. Ms. Sass has contacted Teresa Shuter several times, and Evie made an inquiry, but we have not had a response yet.

Staff Updates The vacant Tech II position has been filled by part‐time maintenance staffer John .Spears We are currently interviewing for canoe rental, gate, ranger, maintenance and leisure services and interpretive interns.

Mayors’ Ride The Mayors’ Ride will be held on May 7, and St. Patrick’s County Park will again serve as the northern terminus.

Indiana Dunes Birding Festival Partner We are partnering with Indiana Dunes State Park on a number of field trips for this festival May 4‐7. Several of our program staff are driving our park vans for a variety of field trips and two of the festival

St. Joseph County Parks Administrative Report 4/17 Page 1

April 2017 SJC Parks Board Packet Page 6 field trips will take place at Bendix Woods County Park and Spicer Lake Nature Preserve. The festival is paying for the use of our vans and driver/leaders.

Projects Construction team installed a new steel door, frame and hardware on the south end of White Barn. the lower level of the White Barn. The old windows were not functioning properly and many of the seals in the double pane glass were failing. As part of the window project we removed an old Dutch Door in the copier room that had not been used in years and replaced it with a new window as well.

Canoe vans and trailers were serviced so they would be ready to go for the busy canoeing season. Approximately 50 work orders have been completed since 1/1/17 of which 33% were Facility Repair related.

We are awaiting final approval by the Council and Commissioner of the appropriated funds from the Parks Non‐reverting capital fund to begin the roof repair at the Red Barn.

Working on the White Barn Dutch door

Community/Professional Involvement Evie spoke at the Shirley Heinze Land Trust spring luncheon at the Century Center on April 7 and participated in the press conference for the Mayors’ Ride on April 10.

St. Joseph County Parks Administrative Report 4/17 Page 2

April 2017 SJC Parks Board Packet Page 7 Interpretive & The Stats Interpretive Services Number of programs or days/attendance Division Leisure The sugaring season was in full swing this month! Leisure Programs: Services In the first half of the month 12 different schools Public: 1 @ STP/6, 1 @ STP rescheduled participated in our Maple Syrup and Sugar Camp Partnered: 1 @ STP/350 (Bike Swap Safari Interpretive School Programs. This meant Meet) that over 1,000 students, teachers and parents Special Event: 2167 (Sugar Camp Days) were able to experience the Bendix Woods Sugar St. Joseph County Parks Special Requests: 4 @ BXW/306 Bush! March 2017 Disc golf: 310 Interpretive Programs: We wouldn’t be able to see this many visitors nor Shelley Chaffee have such a successful sugaring season without Amal Farrough School: 23 @ BXW/1,097, 12 offsite/155 the help of our sugaring volunteers. Over 800 Jamie Hartzke Public: 4 @ BXW/89 volunteer hours were spent assisting school Michaele Klingerman Special Requests: 2 @ STP/45, Jan McGowan groups, cooking syrup, bottling syrup, 4 offsite/137 KC Nieboer volunteering during Sugar Camp Days and Leslie Witkowski Special Event: 2 @ BXW/2,167 assisting with sugar camp clean-up!

Leisure Services Division The latter half of the month was spent cleaning The weather this month was rainy and cool, so up the sugar bush and focusing on additional DG activity was slower than previous months, “non-maple” programs. We hosted two separate but still strong. Since the beginning of the year Boy Scout programs, a program on Worms for a we have sold, 69 annual passes, 622 daily passes, very energetic group of 1 1/2-2 year olds, our and 70 discs and bags. monthly Memorial Children’s Hospital program, our first program in the Spring Home School March otherwise is typically a slower month program series, a Nature Tails program for the for the LS staff as we wrap up winter sports YWCA and finally we said “Thank You” to all of and begin ramping up for Spring. Much of the our sugaring volunteers as we hosted the 22nd beginning of the month staff assisted with school Annual Maple Syrup Volunteer Dinner. programs, Sugar Camp Days prep and helping staff the 2-day event. Weekly visits to Perley Fine Arts Academy also continued this month through the Tales to Trails Two programs were offered this month as well. program. We offered a Spring WEO program called Green Clean. This program looked at ways to reduce the harsh chemicals and use more natural products. Our second program which was a partnered hike with South Bend Adventure Club had to be rescheduled due to snow and cold Former, Winter conditions. Interpretive Intern, Aimee Bjornstad, We ended the month with the annual Bike Swap volunteers at Sugar Meet in the Red Barn. This partnered event with Camp Days. Over NIMBA brought in over 350 people. 2,000 visitors were in attendance this year. LS staff also picked up 12 ranger shifts this month and attended the county required Diversity, Anti-Harassment and Reasonable Suspicion Training.

The WEO ladies are getting started on spring cleaning with some earth-friendly ideas.

April 2017 SJC Parks Board Packet Page 8 The mission of the Media ContactS Volunteers interpretive and leisure ser- March Facebook update and E-Newsletter NIMBA, 4 hrs. vices division is to promote STP maintenance: Good Shepherd Montessori understanding and wise use 3/6 WNIT Experience Michiana, Leslie Class, 13 hrs. total of our natural and cultural interviewed for Sugar Camp Days (aired 3/17) Sugar Camp Safari/Maple Syrup school resources through enrich- programs: Jim Rahilly, Patty Fowler & Aimee ing educational and leisure 3/8 South Bend Tribune, Best of St. Pat’s Bjornstad, 36 hrs. total experiences for all ages Sugar House Cooks: Bob Harke, 3/10 WLOI LaPorte, Breakfast Showcase, Leslie Dave Winterstein, Vic & Marge Riemenschneider, interviewed, Sugar Camp Days Bob & Linda Leliaert, Myles Hooton, Gary Beall,  We do this by: Ken Neumann, Joe & Deb Stanis, Marty Brennan, Providing on-site and 3/14: WSBT radio, Sunny 101.5, Z 94.3, WQLQ Ken Peterson, Dick & Jo Borror, Carol Goodall, outreach interpretive & WSBT 960, Leslie interviewed for Sugar Camp John Bentley, Dean Skaggs, Nick Timm, Roger programs, special events Days Grove, Jim Tanner, Matt Spahn, Hannah Scrafford and self-guided media that 3/14 96.7 The Eagle, How weather is & Matt Wilken, 265 hrs. total foster connections between affecting syrup production, Leslie interviewed Maple Chili Lunch: Evelyn Teske, Vic & Marge the participants and the Riemenschneider, Bob Harke, Shawn, Abram, resource; 3/15 South Bend Tribune, Syrup is flowing at Bendix Jonah & Moses Storer & Dick & Jo Borror, Offering leisure experi- Woods and other maple fests this weekend 15 hrs. total ences that promote lifelong Bottling syrup: Kay Easton, Julia Hostetler & learning and minimal impact 3/16 WIMS, Sugar Camp Days, Evie Gary & Nancy Beall, 11.5 hrs. total on our natural resources; interviewed Empty Sap Buckets: Catherine & Ella Farrough & Alana & Kayla Shaping public perception 3/18 WNDU, Leslie interviewed, Sugar Camp Witkowski, 4 hrs. total of our department and - Days Sugar Camp Days festival: Mary Dominick, Eve Fostering stewardship Pierce, Mike & Lisa Jaworski, Curt Williamowski, through research, natural 3/20 South Bend Tribune, Sugar Camp Days at Salima Oudghiri, Pat Chenoweth, Luke Pajor, resource management and Bendix Woods Irv Audiss, Chris & Grace Jones, Brooke Artley, volunteerism Paige Risser, Hannah Scrafford, Maggie & Steve 3/22 South Bend Tribune, Swap bikes and curiosities Cleveland, Aimee Bjornstad, Alice & John Bentley, Sunday in South Bend Judy Carlson, Julia Hostetler, Jo Borror, Steve & Edwin Peacock, Evelyn Teske, Carol Goodall, Kathy 3/29 South Bend Tribune, Most outdoorsy Spring Shreiner, Susan Antonovitz, Bob, Sherry & Drake Break ever in Michiana Harke, Mike & Myles Hooton, Del & Nancy Meyer, Jim Rahilly, Jennifer Beck, Vic & Marge Riemen- Michiana House and Home March edition, Green schneider, Marty Brennan, Gary & Nancy Beall, Cleaning Sean Hall, Rick & Kevin Clawson, Dean Skaggs, Roger Grove, Bob & Linda Leliaert, Shawn, Abram Eventbu.com, Our Annual Red Barn Rummage & Jonah Storer, Nancy Biggum, Larry Catanzarite, Sale Colleen Kielton, Wayne & Jane Plank, Evan & Pam Powell, , Jim Tanner & Matt Spahn, 415.50 hrs. Granger Gazette, Sugar Camp Days & WEO: total Green Cleaning Sugar Camp Clean-up: John & Alice Bentley, Nancy Biggum, Dean Skaggs, Pete, Catherine & Ella Farrough Gary Beall, Bob & Linda Leliaert, Vic & Marge Riemenschneider, Steve Howard, Donations Kathy Radican, Carol Goodall, 49 hrs. total Gary & Nancy Beall: children’s books = $30.90 Total volunteer 813 hrs x $22.69 = Total donations valued at: $30.90 $18,446.97

Staff 3/1 Jamie and KC, GLPTI Coming Up... 3/2 Jamie, VSBM Luncheon • Cache in-Trash-out 3/3 Jamie, FL Orientation • Hoosier Riverwatch Volunteer Water Monitor 3/22 Jamie, KC, Shelley & Leslie Diversity, Anti- Training Harassment and Reasonable Suspicion training • Garlic Mustard Pull

April 2017 SJC Parks Board Packet Page 9 St. Joseph County Parks Attendance 2017 Offsite Ferrettie Baugo Programs/ Bendix Woods Creek St. Patrick's Spicer Lake Events

Month Park Visitors Park Visitors Park Visitors Park Visitors 2017 2016 2017

January 980 2439 5834 871 10124 10392 50 February 1 1691 3977 9560 1559 16788 13795 3592 March 5793 3708 7288 1318 18107 24388 292 2017 by Park 8,464 10,124 22,683 3,748 45,019 48,575 3934 2016 by Park 7,766 12,114 26,313 2,382 % Increase -7.32%

April Difference 698 -1,990 -3,630 1,366 # Increase -3,556

2017 Includes additional visitors who arrive by bus, such as school groups, that would be counted by the gate counter as one vehicle. SJC 1) Offsite attendance includes Science Alive. Parks Board Packet Page 10 Rental Facility Report 4/12/2017

2017 Bendix Woods Ferrettie Baugo Creek St. Patricks Monthly Totals Paid Rentals 3 0 1 4 January Park Programs 2 0 1 3 Paid Rentals 0 0 1 1 February Park Programs 6 1 2 9 Paid Rentals 1 3 3 7 March Park Programs 26 0 4 30 Paid Rentals 0 April Park Programs 0 Paid Rentals 0 May Park Programs 0 Paid Rentals 0 June Park Programs 0 Paid Rentals 0 July Park Programs 0 Paid Rentals 0 August Park Programs 0 Paid Rentals 0 September Park Programs 0 Paid Rentals 0 October Park Programs 0 Paid Rentals 0 November Park Programs 0 Paid Rentals 0 December Park Programs 0 Paid Rentals 4 3 5 12 Totals by Park Park Programs 34 1 7 42 Rental Facility Waivers & Discounts Amount waived or Organization(s) Name discounted January N/A February N/A

March Good Shepherd Montessori ($100). NIMBA ($464.49); Employee (West Wing, $61.50) $625.99 April May

June July

August September October November December Year-to-date Total $625.99

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