Residents love Rotary Park’s new look
By Tom Gilchrist
For The Advertiser
CASS CITY — Kelli McIntyre has made a splash as the village of Cass City’s Parks and Recreation director, in part due to increasing revenues and programs at Helen Stevens Memorial Pool in Cass City Recreational Park.
McIntyre, a part-time village employee, “is doing a very superb job,” said Trustee Nancy Barrios at the July 28 Village Council meeting.
The village recently doubled the number of the new water aerobics classes at the pool from two to four, due to popularity of the classes, according to Councilwoman Marilyn Biefer.
McIntyre wrote in her Parks and Recreation Report on July 28 that “our swimming lessons, water aerobics and open swim hours have generated over $25,000 thus far, which is an increase of $7,500 more than last year at this time.”
McIntyre also reported an increase in the number of children attending Day Camp at the park on weekdays. More than 130 children, ages 6 to 12, have registered for the summer — an increase of about 25 youths from last summer.
In addition this summer, the village offered new “Fundamental Sport Camps,” with youths involved in flag football, bowling, disc golf, volleyball and basketball, according to McIntyre.
Recreational Park also hosted a slow-pitch softball tournament this summer and a youth baseball tournament last month with teams in three age brackets, McIntyre reported.
“We’re using the park to its fullest, and Kelli is to be commended,” Biefer said.
In other action at the July 28 meeting, in an effort to improve the appearance of yards in the village, council members voted to limit the height of lawns and weeds to six inches. Previously, no maximum grass height had been specified in the code enforced by Code Enforcement Officer Bill Hartzell.
“One of the problems we face now is the grass height,” Trustee Jenny Zawilinski said. “There are a lot of rentals and they’re not being properly maintained.”
Zawilinski added that “So many people have lost their homes the way the economy’s been — the amount of rentals has increased in our village, and (renters) are just not keeping up the yards like someone who owns a home would keep them up.”
Council members, however, like the looks of Rotary Park along Main Street in the village, following construction of a new brick and metal fence by Blue Iron Metal Works of Decker. Construction of the fence, designed by David Marr, was financed by a grant from Rotary International.
“That Rotary Park looks gorgeous. That fence is beautiful. It’s a very, very nice addition to the park,” said Kate Van Auken, Rawson Memorial District Library director, addressing the council.
Village Manager Peter J. Cristiano reports Frank Shoup has purchased the Mulligan’s Irish Links par-three golf course in Cass City, and the nearby Knights of Columbus building at 6106 Beechwood Drive. Shoup also has purchased Pebbles Plus — now called Flowers Galore & More — according to Cristiano.
A document read by Cristiano regarding Walbro Engine Management LLC’s plan for a $4.2 million expansion of its Cass City plant stated that the village is giving the company a $354,753 tax break — the total amount over 12 years — in connection with the project.
Walbro Engine Management, a maker of carburetors, ignition systems, fuel-storage systems and other components, will create 28 new jobs, according to Cristiano.
In other news, council amended an agreement with Dairy Farmers of America Inc., which is building a new plant in the village. The amendment allows Dairy Farmers of America to construct, own and operate a private wastewater-treatment facility for its own process waste only. The village would have no liability for process waste generated by the Dairy Farmers of America, or DFA.
Council members were handed a report from Department of Public Works Superintendent Gary Barnes, who noted the 8,808,000 gallons of water pumped from village wells in June was a 6.4 percent increase from the amount of water pumped in June of 2013.