By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Wood County Park District plans to spend $561,800 next year on sprucing up its parks.
The capital improvements, approved at a board meeting earlier this month, will include some items that will be visible to park patrons, like the resurfacing of trails and parking lots, repairs to its historic barn, and replacement of boardwalks.
But many of the expenses are routine maintenance that won’t be as visible, like a sewer line connection, furnace replacement and foundation repairs.
The park district’s operating budget for 2023 totals $4.46 million.
The budget includes 3% cost of living wage increases for park employees, plus lump sum payments for all staff earning less than $72,000 annually.
The lump sum payments reflect an effort to maintain quality staff, and to recognize the work of the park district, with an understanding of the stress caused by current economic uncertainties.
The lump sum payments are set at $500 for full-time employees earning $46,000 or less, $400 for full-time employees earning between $46,000 and $62,000 a year, $300 for full-time staff earning between $62,000 and $72,000 a year, and $300 for part-time employees regularly scheduled and working a minimum of 20 hours per week.
Some concerns were expressed by the board about the park district’s tax levy bringing in about $3.4 million a year, while the operating expenses for next year are $4.4 million.
Wood County Park District Executive Director Chris Smalley said the district will be looking at areas where cuts can be made. He also said the district may need to look at alternative revenues, such as increasing park rental rates. He added that the rates will remain reasonable and fair.
Following is a list of the capital improvements planned at the district’s parks next year:
- Buttonwood Park – $2,000 for parking lot repairs, etc.
- Cedar Creeks Preserve – $2,000 for trail resurfacing, etc.
- Fuller Preserve – $500 for miscellaneous.
- William Henry Harrison Park – $5,000 for demolition of park police garage, etc.
- Park Headquarters – $73,000 for sewer line connection, reservation system upgrades, parking lot repaving, etc.
- W.W. Knight Preserve – $21,800 for furnace replacement, fireplace switch replacement, trail resurfacing, etc.
- Otsego Park – $85,600 for cement support repairs, kitchen remodel, garage foundation repairs, basement door replacement, fireplace switch replacement, etc.
- Wood County Museum/Arrowwood Archery Range – $2,000 miscellaneous.
- Adam Phillips Pond – $500 miscellaneous.
- Slippery Elm Trail – $23,500 for main trail clearing, Cricket Frog Cove kiosk replacement, Rudolph Savanna/Rudolph Bike Park, Black Swamp Preserve, etc.
- Baldwin Woods – $1,500 miscellaneous.
- Carter Historic Farm Park/Zimmerman School – $49,000 for main barn wall repairs, farrowing house wall repairs, main house tile and gutter work, front porch repairs/repaint, etc.
- Bradner Preserve – $42,400 tar and chipping Timmons and Caldwell entrances, boardwalk replacement, entrance sign at Caldwell Road, etc.
- Beaver Creek – $2,000 miscellaneous.
- Reuthinger Preserve – $247,000 for building expansion, etc.
- Sawyer Quarry Preserve – $2,000 miscellaneous.
