By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
When Wood County Park District’s facilities open back up for business, the rentals will come with some strict rules. And if those rules aren’t followed, renters may find themselves tossed from the facilities.
The park district board talked Tuesday about how to keep park facility patrons safe during COVID.
While the park lands have been very busy, the rental facilities have been shuttered since COVID hit, and will continue to be closed through June. Once they open, renters will have to sign a COVID supplemental agreement requiring them to:
- Practice social distancing of 6 feet between people in the facilities, porches, deck areas and on the grounds.
- Wear face coverings except when actively eating or drinking.
- Keep tables and chairs at least 6 feet apart. Tables and chairs will be prearranged by the park district, and cannot be moved or added to during an event.
- Not exceed the maximum of 60 people in facilities at Otsego Park and W.W. Knight Preserve. Both buildings normally hold 120 people.
- Not allow buffet dining. Food must be served by people wearing masks and gloves.
- Use the cleaning supplies provided by the park district.
- Not permit dance floors or areas for congregating.
- No one with COVID symptoms will be allowed to enter.
“We won’t stand there with a thermometer to check on them,” board member Denny Parish said. “It’s the honor system. If you’re symptomatic, stay away.”
A clause will be added to the agreement stating that failure to follow the rules may result in the event being shut down by park police or other park employees.
“We should have the ability to shut them down immediately,” Parish said.
If rules are violated, the renters also risk forfeiture of their deposit and lose the right to rent park facilities in the future.
In other business, board member Bill Cameron brought up the topic of providing a one-time COVID payment to park district staff.
In December, the Wood County Commissioner provided one time “thank you” payments to county employees for their efforts working through the pandemic. The payments were $500 for full-time employees and $250 for part-time employees.
Cameron suggested the park district does the same.
However, Parish pointed out that the 2021 park budget does not include money for that purpose – which would add up to $15,850 for the park district employees.
“No matter what you label it, it’s a bonus,” Parish said, adding it would be improper to use taxpayer dollars on bonuses.
Just because the county commissioner provided the one-time payments, doesn’t mean the park district has to follow suit, board president Tom Myers said.
“It doesn’t obligate us to do that,” Myers said.
Cameron pointed out the park district had funds left over from 2020 because no seasonal staff was hired due to COVID.
But Parish said the park district budget is very different from the county’s general fund.
“Unlike the commissioners, we live on a fixed income,” he said.
“I disagree,” Cameron said. “We have money in this pot to use” and the park staff worked hard last year to complete work normally done by seasonal staff, he added.
Also at the meeting, Munger updated the board on the Rudolph Bike Park.
“Kids are out there – even in the cold weather,” he said.
Munger said he visited the new bike park with a risk management official, who suggested that the park district add more signage advising that people “use at your own risk.”
“He wants to see more signage that says that,” Munger said.
Munger also reported that the contractor who was supposed to get the necessary variances for the bike park from the Liberty Township Trustees failed to do so. He blamed the problem on a miscommunication.
“They do seem very receptive to working with us on it,” Munger said of the township trustees.
Parish suggested that any legal fees incurred to get the variances be paid by the contractor.
“I feel strongly if we have to pay legal fees for any of this, the contractor has to pay those costs,” he said.
Myers agreed, and added that he didn’t want the trustees to get the wrong impression about the park district.
“That’s not how we do business,” he said.
Munger said the township trustees understand it was the contractor’s job to secure the variances. He said an official grand opening at the bike park may occur by mid-summer.
“We hope to move forward as quickly as we can,” he said.
Plantings are planned in and around the bike park, with native grasses planned inside the bike park, and turf grassed in the outer areas.
In other business, the board:
- Elected Sandy Wiechman as board chairperson and Kim Rose as vice chairperson.
- Agreed to continue holding meetings on the second Tuesday of every month at 4 p.m.
- Learned from the Friends of the Parks that more than 800 people attended the outdoor lighting display at W.W. Knight Preserve called “Wild Lights” last weekend.
