The Park District is completing capital projects
PEMBERVILLE – The Wood County Park District is moving forward on its list of capital projects for 2023.
“We have a lot of work to do in the near future,” Principal Chris Smalley said at the Oct. 10 meeting at William Henry Harrison Park.
Each park has a list of completed projects including:
Buttonwood Recreation Area: $1,500 for stone parking lot repairs.
Cedar Creeks Reservation: Repair playground equipment, $2,000.
Park Headquarters: Parking lot repairs, $35,000.
WW Knight Reserve: Fireplace replaced for $15,000. The wooden walkway was replaced and the patio walkway replaced with previously purchased materials.
Otsego Park: Repair cement columns, $60,000; Basement door replaced, $5,000; new kitchen appliances, $10,000; and new chimney opener installed, $3600.
Bradner Reservoir: completion of tar and sand at Timmons Inlet, $19,000 and Caldwell Inlet, $14,400; and a new Caldwell Road entrance sign was installed at a cost of $2,000.
Reutinger Memorial Park: A building addition was completed at a cost of $245,000 and the pool was valued at $2,000.
Sawyer Quarry Reservation: Septic tank repairs cost $2,000.
Another bouldering trail at Phillips Pond cost $500, the Slippery Elm trail was cleared for $10,000, and a $3,000 ladder was installed at the historic Carter Farm.
“There is still a lot of work to be done,” Smalley said.
He said the district is about three-quarters of the budget and is still within budget despite unexpected expenses.
The board also approved new salary levels and ranges for the two positions.
For the Communications/Volunteer Services Specialist, the salary range will increase to $49,004.80 to $68,598.40 with the title changed to Communications and Community Specialist.
The Historic Agriculture Specialist salary also increased one step with the title change to Historic Agriculture Coordinator, from $57,886.40 to $81,0836.80.
In other companies:
• Commissioner Rebecca Ferguson asked why the parks were closed when the area was closed due to a snowfall.
"Coming from someone who has kids who come to the park on days the park is closed...I want my kids to go out and have fun at the park," she said.
He said he didn't understand why the parks didn't open in the morning when the third stage snow disappeared.
• Smalley presented proposed changes to the lease and said those changes will be discussed at the next meeting.
• Candace Weiss, president of Friends of the Parks, announces the creation of the Wood County Parks History Committee, which has focused on the history of Wood County parks for decades. Library databases and live lists are also searched.
