Harbor Area Regional Board of Resources
December 10, 2008
Little Traverse Township Hall

Present: Gene Reck, Denise Simon, Bill Dohm, Michael Esposito, Bill Wiechmann, Dale Labrie, Bob Sandford, Joey Arbaugh, Tom Shier, Greg Voelker, Tom Bailey, Gail Gruenwald, Mark Tompkins, Maureen Nicholson, Justin Bassett, Dan Branson, Kathryn Breighner, Kathy Erber, Joan Fenton, Doug Fuller, Mary Ellen Hughes, Charlie MacInnis, Neal McCue

Absent: Nan Hogan, Fred Troup, Al Dika, Rich Rule, Gordon Kruskie, Leroy Gregory, Margie FitzSimons, John Foster, Fred Hoffmann, Rob Fuhrman, Ray Kiogima, Charles O’Neill, Tom Gallagher, Jim Bartlett, Jeanne Benjamin, Jack Deegan, Paul Mooradian, Rob Mossburg, Doug Tayler

Danna Widmar and Preston McGregor were also present.  Denise Simon called the meeting to order at 8 a.m.

Minutes

Greg Voelker made a motion to approve the minutes of the meeting of Sept. 17, with one correction, seconded by Joey Arbaugh. Motion carried.

Financial Report

Michael Esposito presented a report on the financial status of the organization. For the finances through September 2008, there is nothing unusual budgeted or spent.

Fundraising

Danna updated the board on 2008 fundraising. Through December 3, we are $10,000 below last year in general fundraising. Ride Harbor Springs raised more than $12,000. The Petoskey Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation awarded a grant of $3,700 to be used in 2009 trail work.  An additional $1,000 was presented by the Foundation to HARBOR Inc. by a specific donor also to be used for trail work. Emmet County approved a $20,000 matching grant to be applied to the additional expenses HARBOR Inc. is incurring on the trail.

Danna has been working with the Frey Foundation on future trail-related project needs including the finish of the M-119 trail, the Hoyt trail, and another 2 mile trail elsewhere.

Board Changes

With the recent election, several appointed seats to the HARBOR Inc. will bring some changes to the HARBOR Inc board. Gene Reck moves from a community seat to the Cross Village Township position. Fred Troup and Gordon Kruskie now represent Friendship and Readmond Townships. Al Dika moves from the mayor of Harbor Spring’s appointed seat to the mayor’s position and he will appoint someone to fill the second seat. Gregg Garver will fill the chamber of commerce seat.

Infrastructure

Reports from area government agencies report that federal stimulus funds could go into infrastructure projects that are ready to go with both planning and budgets. This could apply to high speed internet and trails, the Hoyt trail or Ford Park. Danna will follow up.

M-119

There appears to be no easy solution to the water problem along the Weque Golf Course. A pipe that carried water under the road was not replaced when M-119 was redone a number of years ago which is causing the water to back up along the road and golf course. For MDOT to properly handle the movement of the water, they will need to get easements from the downhill landowners that will be impacted by the water and the actual work would not be done for several years. We have until April 15, 2009 to get a detention system designed as a solution within the existing right-of-way.  Trail construction is slated for September 2009.

Programs

The online mapping will be completed in 2009. The recreation committee will continue working together. The Hoyt project could be designed in 2009 with construction in 2010 when Hoyt Road is resurfaced/redone.

Budget

The 2009 was presented for discussion. Gene Reck moved, with a second by Neal McCue, to approve the budget. Motion carried.

Copier

Danna informed the board that the Historical Society has moved out of the shared office space.  HARBOR Inc. has been using the Historical Society’s copier and thus, we are without one.  Bill Wiechmann offered to donate a copier from Pleasantview Township to HARBOR Inc. and will work with Danna on moving it.

The meeting was adjourned at 9 a.m.