Sunset Hill Farm County Park is ending 2012 with great expectations for what the future holds.

First at Thursday’s meeting, the Parks and Recreation Board voted 5-0 to designate the area southeast of the main parking lot as the location of the proposed 10,000 square-foot Raise-the-Barn activity center, which will have its own drop-off loop with ADA accessibility and a children’s garden. It will be in close proximity to where the Murray dairy barn was years before.

Absent from the meeting was board member Rebecca Tomerlin.

A drive way connecting the main parking lot and the road to the south would contain the drop-off area.

A computer image of park layout was presented by architect Tom Varvek who recently drew up a preliminary floor plan which will be ready for the board’s January meeting once parks staff make revisions on the overall design.

The board initially approved the location at its last meeting, contingent on finding out from soil testing if the grounds were safe to build on. Varvek said soil borings rendered positively.

Parks Superintendent Walter Lenckos said construction can begin once the Plan Commission or the Board of Zoning Appeals approves the design. He hopes to start construction next year but funding must also come first.

Lenckos said the park department has about $700,000, including donations collected by the Parks Foundation, in line for the estimated $3 million construction project. Earlier this week the County Commissioners approved on first reading a fund specifically designed to hold dollars for Raise-the-Barn. A fund for a $50,000 Lake Michigan Coastal grant for the children’s garden was also established.

The monies will have to be allocated by the County Council.

Also, the board passed a motion 5-0 to accept a $9,300 bid from Regional Plumbing Services of Valparaiso for new waterline connections at Sunset Hill Farm around the buildings and parking area. Board member Craig Kenworthy cautioned of potential problems digging for pipelines under asphalt so the board, in its motion, included that the plastic pipes be backfilled with sand which wasn’t included in Regional Plumbing’s bid.

The parks will have to negotiate a new bid to include the sand fill which can done as long as it does not go above the closest competing bid, parks board attorney Dave Hollenbeck said, which is $10,600.

Lenckos said the board can expect parks planner Ray Joseph at the next meeting to explain more enhancements in development for the north area of Sunset Hill Farm. The changes have been outlined in the new master plan for the park.

The Northern Indiana Historical Power Association is interested in collaborating with the parks department on introducing more interpretative programs and displays at Sunset Hill Farm. The group hosts its annual Fall Festival and Antique Tractor Show in exchange for various volunteer groundskeeping around the park throughout the year, an agreement commonly known as “Exhibit B” in its lease.

Lenckos said he had an “incredibly productive” meeting with NIHPA’s new president Nick Misch, coming up with fresh ideas they could offer for the park. Misch, who was in attendance, said he believes the revamped partnership will “work out quite well” and NIHPA will continue bringing forward their ideas.

Coming to a decision before the current NIHPA agreement runs out this year, the board approved a motion 5-0 to extend the lease agreement into next year. However, Lenckos said he is interested in extending the lease into multiple years as part of reshaping the “Exhibit B” agreement.

In another motion, the board agreed unanimously to renew the lease price of $1, identical to the 2012 agreement, to the Porter County Parks Foundation to use land at Sunset Hill Farm.

Mild temperatures garnered kudos from Lenckos as he credited the favorable weather as one reason for another successful year for the annual Winter Lights Festival at Sunset Hill last month.

Parks Communications Director Matt Pera said he counted about 750 cars arriving. More than 3,000 people enjoyed the lights, crafts areas and fireworks.

Lenckos said he figures this is the 12th year for the event which continues to get bigger each year.

“Countless amounts of kilowatt hours have been used up,” he said.

But the weather gods didn’t take all the accolades. Lenckos presented a plaque of appreciation to part-time staff member and electrician Jack Kashak, who each night makes sure all of the lights are in working order.

“If it wasn’t for Jack, there wouldn’t be a Winter Lights festival,” Lenckos said.

In other Sunset Hill Farm news, Lenckos said due to the success of Camp FUNset this summer, the department will be holding a mini winter version for three days next month on Jan. 2-4 for children ages 6 through 12.

“Camp FUNset Rocking Resolutions” will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on those days featuring nature hikes, games and crafts. Cost for each camper is $60 with a $5 discount for siblings. To register, contact the parks department at 465-3586.

Board member David Canright said that he read recently there is talk among some groups of changing the Calumet Trail to Marquette Greenway. Lenckos said there was a report given by SEH Inc. at the County Commissioners’ meeting Tuesday that mentioned there is talk among regional planning groups to “rebrand” the trail as part of a larger imitative called the Marquette Greenway Plan stretching along the National Lakeshore.

Canright said the name Calumet is rooted in Porter County (Chesterton was called Calumet) and said he sees no reason to give the trail a “Lake County” name.

County Commissioner President John Evans, R-North, has said he thinks there should be a public survey to let trail users decide what to call the trail.

More at Thursday’s meeting:

• Instead of requesting bids, the board unanimously said yes to approving a 2013 lease with Rhoda Farms to continue farming the 47 tillable acres the park owns in Pine Twp. Hollenbeck said Rhoda Farms has traditionally offered bids most beneficial to the parks department and has even paid bonus rent. They asked the lease be honored earlier so tilling the ground can begin before the spring season.

• Hollenbeck will be retained as board attorney for next year. He has been the board’s legal counsel since its inception.

• The board scheduled its retreat tentatively for Feb. 23 and will hire Stu Sommers as the facilitator.

Posted 12/7/2012