By VICKI URBANIK

The Porter County Park Board reorganized for 2008 on Thursday with two new members, new officers, and some unfinished business.

Rich Hudson was unanimously elected park board president, with Christine Aylesworth chosen vice-president. The park board also passed resolutions commending two former board members, Harold Erwin and Richard Maxey, who left the board at the end of 2007. Both of them, however, will remain as volunteer members of a few park board committees.

The park board also welcomed its two newest members: Todd Hutson, who is serving as the Purdue Extension Service appointee, and Jim Perkins, who is the Porter County Council appointee. Perkins was not in attendance Thursday.

The park board unanimously agreed to contract with the Lehman & Lehman consulting firm to prepare a master plan for the park department’s newest property acquisition, the Brincka-Cross Gardens in Furnessville. The master plan will cost $66,100.

The park board agreed with a suggestion from board member David Canright not to pursue an optional tourism analysis as part of the planning process. Canright, a member of the Porter County Convention, Recreation and Visitors Commission board, said the PCCRVC might be able to fund this portion of the plan, and that he doesn’t think park funds should be used for a tourism assessment.

Also Thursday, the park board approved a 2008 fee schedule for an assortment of park rentals. Many of the fees will increase by $5. Park Superintendent Ed Melendez said he has checked with other area park departments, and the Porter County park fees are still below or the same as the fees charged elsewhere.

At Melendez’ recommendation, the park board agreed to have park representatives meet with the Duneland Fourth of July Committee to discuss the possible use of Sunset Hill Farm County Park for the 2008 festival. Hudson suggested that Erwin, who is a neighbor of Sunset Hill Farm, join in the discussions.

Melendez reviewed a long list of problems that occurred with the Duneland Festival last year. He said traffic flow was a problem, since there were people walking down Meridian Road and U.S. 6. Park staff members were clearly identified, but the county park was not the sponsor of the festival and as a result, its staff couldn’t answer many of the questions that festival goers raised. He said the Fourth of July committee needs to have signage clearly identifying the sponsor of the event and that its members need to show their presence at the event.

Melendez also suggested a festival volunteer list and better organization, advertising and security. He also said the planning for the festival needs to begin as soon as possible to iron out last year’s problems.

In another matter, Northern Indiana Historical Power Association President Fred Armstrong outlined plans for a June 7 antique tractor pull and swap meet. The tractor pull will involve setting aside a 60 by 300 foot strip in the park’s grassy area on the east side of Meridian Road. The strip will be used again in future years for the tractor pull.

From the audience, former park board member Charlotte Read questioned if a temporary material could be used instead of stripping the land. “Sixty by 300 is a pretty good piece of ground,” she said.

Armstrong also announced that a NIHPA windmill at Sunset Hill fell over during a recent storm and that NIHPA is in the process of purchasing a new motor. The group hopes to have the windmill back up and running before spring, he said.

Park Manager Matt Howton also announced that the new maintenance building for Sunset Hill Farm was delivered on Thursday and that plans are now underway to pour the floor and erect the building.

From the audience, both Charlotte and Herb Read urged caution over the upcoming demolition of the former Murray House at Sunset Hill. Both called for the park department to ensure that surrounding native vegetation is not adversely impacted by the work. Melendez said the board is expected to award the contract for the demolition at its April meeting.

And, as he has often done at previous park board meetings, Herb Read called on the park board to continue pursuing acquisition of land for future parks. “The window of opportunity will not be there forever,” he said.

He in particular called on the county parks to consider acquisition of wetlands, noting that many wetlands in Porter County are being developed. “A wetland is much better suited for the park system than a subdivision,” he said.

Posted 2/8/2008