Rec board appoints committee members

Sean Harkins
On Wednesday, the Alpena Recreation Advisory Board held its annual organizational meeting and appointed three members to serve on a committee to update the city’s recreation plan.

The recreation plan needs to be updated every five years, and the current plan will expire in March 2009.

Advisory board members Dave Kuznicki, Mike Wojda and Arthur Gillespie will serve on the committee to update the plan, along with three members of the city planning commission.

Assistant City Manager Eric Cline said the Northeast Michigan Council of Governments also will be involved in updating the plan, which is needed for the city to receive grants from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

As part of the organizational meeting, the board elected a chairman and vice chairman. Tom DeCaire was re-elected as chairman and Kuznicki was reelected as vice chairman.

Cline also updated the board on the city’s proposed budget, which would set aside $82,736 for capital improvements for recreation.

The budget includes $50,000 for architecture design for the Starlite Beach bathhouse.

Cline said construction of the facility likely will be done in two years, but design work can begin this year.

The budget, which has not yet been passed, also includes $10,000 for bi-path improvements, $11,200 for island park and sanctuary improvements, and $4,000 for the recreation plan update.

The advisory board also discussed a baseball field at McRae Park that eventually will be turned over to the Babe Ruth league.

Board member Tom Sommerfeld said there have been some complaints about stones in the infield being too large.

“The stones just seem to be getting bigger and bigger,” he said.

Kuznicki said once the field is turned over to Babe Ruth, it can change the infield gravel.

In other business, Cline said the Exchange Club, the marine sanctuary and the city have been discussing building a playground behind the sanctuary. The project could be about two years away, if it even happens, he said.

“It’s still in the talking phase,” he said.

Sean Harkins can be reached via e-mail at sharkins@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5688.