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Volume 2, Issue 47 APRIL 18, 2025 Total Raised: $60,611 Lead this Legacy
: Whitehall tabs Mahoney as next police chief
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Hart City Council votes to open John Gurney Park early By Sharon Hallack The Oceana Echo Community Correspondent
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HART - It was a unanimous decision of the five Hart City Council members present at their April 8 meeting to reopen John Gurney Park on Tuesday, April 15. This is two weeks and two days earlier than planned. The change was approved with the caveat that campers would need to understand not all park services may be fully available by then. The action came about as a result of Hart Township resident Tim Collins speaking during public comment. He informed the council he and his wife had paid the park’s seasonal rate last fall in anticipation of selling their home this year. Collins told the council they had a closing date of April 15 and had planned to move into John Gurney, assuming it would be open by then as it had been in years past. Collins claimed he, along with five other people, never received the city’s email communication last fall about the later opening date and that they, along with at least one other couple, have nowhere to go after
April 15. He was coming to the board to see if anything could be done. Later in the meeting, council member Dean Hodges requested permission from Mayor Amanda Klotz to speak to the issue, and Klotz allowed the change to the agenda. Hodges expressed his sympathy to Collins, saying it was “an unfortunate situation,” and asked the council if they would consider opening the park early, this year only. After some discussion, Hodges made a motion to open the park on April 15 for this year only to accommodate those who misunderstood or were unaware of the park’s May 1 opening date for 2025. Council member Jim Cunningham gave support. When the city started planning for the 2025 changes at John Gurney Park, the parks department decided to use May 1 through October 31, dates originally set back in 1983, as the dates for park operations. Splane said that timeline determined their park maintenance schedule this past winter and spring. While Splane’s opinion is the city should still adhere to May 1 as the park’s official opening date, he is empathetic to those who didn’t know the timing. According to Splane and Parks and Rec Supervisor Chris TerHaar, all seasonal campers were sent an email in November with the 2025 opening date. Splane said of the 53 emails that were sent out, only three were sent back. “We realize it’s a change (for campers),” said Klotz. “If campers can give us some latitude and understanding. We don’t want to put undue stress on staff. Maybe we need to have a disclaimer with regards to the opening date.” TerHaar informed council the cold and windy conditions have hampered some of the work progress at the park, however, he was hopeful they would be
able to get caught up and back on track soon. TerHaar added that the April 15 date was instituted when Freed Management wanted to be more accommodating to their seasonal campers. TerHaar said he believes he has every seasonal camper’s email now and planned to email everyone on the list the next day about the 2025 opening date. Council member Andrew Mullen recommended that in future email communications, the city use delivery/ read receipts to ensure they are all received/ read. He also requested the city manager CC all council members on any campground notification/communications sent as well. In other business, the council heard a presentation from Ross Simpson from the Spring Lake company, Eden Lakes, Innovative Water Solutions. He had presented to the BioPure board earlier in the day, sharing the patented technology they have developed to help municipalities with wastewater management. The technology introduces compressed oxygen into lakes, waterways or wastewater treatment facilities to hyper-stimulate bacteria, causing the bacteria to consume a larger percentage of the biosolids. Simpson’s proposal of $32,000 would be used to treat one of the lagoons for 30 days in an effort to reduce the approximately three and a half feet of biosolids, BioPure Superintendent Paul Cutter said. Simpson said he believes the treatment would reduce any biosolids by 60 percent. Cutter, who is always looking for ways to reduce costs at the plant, believes if this treatment proves successful, it could greatly reduce the cost of biosolid trucking, as well as energy and chemical costs. If the city did decide to contract with Eden Lakes, the lease would be year-round and ful-
ly maintained, meaning all equipment and processes would be the responsibility of their company. “The idea would be to get away from hauling biosolids,” Cutter said. “You should also see a reduction in odors,” Simpson added. Splane concluded the presentation by saying the city could have a parallel discussion with Eden Lakes about Hart Lake. The company is currently using this technology in Silver Lake and Simpson claims their company “has turned it around” for that body of water. A formal resolution will be presented to the council for their approval at the April 22 council meeting. Under action items, the city council approved Resolution 2025-09, vacating Hanson Street East. The 300foot portion of Hanson Street, between Griswold Street and Oceana Drive, was once used as an access to a former butcher shop. The “street” is now privately-owned and does not meet the state’s criteria for a public right-ofway, therefore is not eligible for Act 51 funds. Council also approved the readoption of the City of Hart’s Master Plan and the City of Hart’s Recreation Plan. According to Splane, both plans have been updated slightly. Both needed to be readopted
at this time to align with the state statute and to keep the city’s Redevelopment Ready Community designation. Splane recommended, however, that the city do a full public reengagement later this year. During discussion topics, Splane suggested that with the Parks and Rec department turning one year old, it might be a good time to form a Parks and Recreation steering committee. With the council’s approval, he would like to put out a notice requesting community members’ involvement. “I like to think we’d be stirring the pot in a good way,” he said. Councilor Mullen suggested the city reach out to area students who might be interested in joining the committee as well. Splane told council he would also be putting out a notice requesting members to serve on an upcoming Interim Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA). He said these meetings are usually a “one and done” but it has been nine years since the last ZBA meeting. The interim board will need to include at least one council member, one planning commission member and three residents. Finally, the council discussed the “Public Comment” item on meeting agendas and whether or not to move it to another place on
the agenda. “It’s an issue that comes up every few years….there are pros and cons,” Splane said. Councilor Cunningham gave a good explanation to all when he explained the two types of comments that can be included on meeting agendas. One gives meeting attendees the opportunity to address the council on any agenda item as it comes up; the other is the format used currently by the city, where attendees have an opportunity to address the council on any topic they wish, but only during the public comment agenda item. “I disagree with having a comment period at the end (of a meeting),” Cunningham said. The idea with the first option is it gives an individual the opportunity to ask questions of or make statements to the council prior to them acting on a proposed action item. “It would give people a chance to speak and the council a chance to hear what the community has to say.” The council was in agreement that it would be good to hear from the community, however, they were concerned it could make meetings go longer or be more contentious. Council feels further consideration and discussion are needed before a formal decision can be made.
Area Egg Hunts April 19 - Walkerville Easter on Main, 9 a.m. April 19 - Trinity Lutheran Church Easter Egg Hunt, 11 a.m. Lunch will be served April 19 - Rothbury Community Egg Hunt, Easter Bunny at 11 a.m. and Egg Hunt at 11:30 a.m. April 19 - Easter on the Pentwater Village Green, 12 p.m. April 19 - Community Easter Egg Hunt, Oceana County Fairgrounds, 12 p.m. April 19 - New Era Egg Hunt, New Era Christian School soccer fields, 2 p.m.