Comstock Township - Parks and Recreation Commission

Comstock Township - Parks and Recreation Commission - October 12, 2026 Meeting

Updated about 2 hours ago

The Commission considers park rules and signage, particularly for the disc golf course. The meeting addresses the ongoing search for a new parks director, reviewing applications and discussing salary ranges. Maintenance updates are provided, highlighting the need for roof repairs at the Softball Complex and the initiation of lighting projects for the holiday season. Financial reports and park usage statistics are reviewed, and the meeting concludes with a discussion on park events and community engagement opportunities.

Chapters

Call to Order (00:00:47)
The meeting was called to order for the Charter Township of Comstock Parks and Recreation.

At 6:00 PM, the regular meeting of the Charter Township of Comstock Parks and Recreation was called to order.
Approval of Agenda (00:01:00)
The agenda was approved as presented without objections.

A motion was made to approve the agenda as presented, which received no objections and the motion carried.
Public Comment (00:01:23)
Public comments were heard, including a proposal for disc golf events in June.

During public comments, a community member discussed a proposal for hosting events at the disc golf course in June. He requested clarification on park rules regarding the timing of the events.
Consent Agenda (00:02:51)
Consent agenda included approval of minutes, GI distribution report, and mercantile bills.

The consent agenda was reviewed, which included meeting minutes, the GI distribution report, and mercantile bills. Some discussions ensued regarding specific entries in the distribution report and corrections needed.
Parks Director Search (00:07:49)
Discussion on the parks director search process, salary range, and next steps.

The board discussed the status of the parks director search, including the number of applications received, interviews conducted, and the need to establish a salary range for the position. There was consensus on moving forward with the top candidates for a second round of interviews.
Use Agreements and Park Rules (00:18:16)
Discussion on the need for use agreements for park facilities and events.

There was a discussion about creating consistent use agreements for park facilities and events, including disc golf and other activities. The need for user agreements to ensure compliance with park rules was emphasized.
Discussion on Consistent Approaches to Ordinances (00:34:30)
Discussion on the need for consistent approaches to ordinance revision dates.

The meeting discussed the need for a consistent approach across the board regarding dates and ordinance revision dates to get everything in order.
Robert Morris Park Off-Season Admission and Closing Time (00:35:12)
Discussion on Robert Morris Park's off-season admission policies and closing times, including agreements for extended use.

The committee discussed the off-season admission policies for Robert Morris Park and the closing times. It was suggested that there should be a per agreement upcharge for extending use beyond sunset to cover costs for gate locking.
Discussion of Pay Post and Donation System at Parks (00:39:00)
Discussion on the use of pay posts and donations for park entry, with emphasis on off-season policies.

The discussion focused on the pay post system at Robert Morris Park and the possible implementation of a donation system in the off-season. It was noted that the current system might be overlooked and the idea of an honor system was mentioned.
Key Management and Agreements for Park Access (00:49:01)
Discussion on key management for parks and the necessity of agreements for extending park usage.

The committee discussed the management of keys for park access, ensuring that all keys are accounted for and a master key is available. The need for agreements with disc golfers for extending park use was also addressed.
Wenke Softball Complex Maintenance and Contracts (00:51:00)
Discussion on maintenance plans for Wenke Softball Complex, including roof repairs and contract negotiations.

The discussion covered maintenance at the Wenke Softball Complex, specifically replacing poles and repairing roofs. The need for contract negotiations with the complex was also discussed to ensure long-term agreements.
Merrill Park River's Edge Project and Grant Writing (00:57:57)
Update on Merrill Park River's Edge project and the status of grant writing efforts.

The committee received an update on the Merrill Park River's Edge project. Grant writing efforts are on hold pending further information from the DNR and clarification on project details.
September Revenue and Expenditure Report (01:00:35)
Review of the September revenue and expenditure report, noting current budget status.

The September revenue and expenditure report was reviewed. It was noted that revenues are abundant while expenditures are on budget, with three months of activity remaining.
McLendon Trails and Active Deer Hunting Signs (01:01:24)
Discussion on the placement of active deer hunting signs at McLendon Trails and their impact on trail users.

The placement of active deer hunting signs at McLendon Trails was discussed, noting confusion among trail users as the designated area for hunting does not include the trails.
Trail Signage and Clarity (01:05:10)
Discussion on the need for better signage on trails to prevent getting off the loop and ensure clarity for users.

The meeting discussed the importance of having clear signage on the trails to indicate where the trail is and to prevent people from unintentionally going off the loop. There was a suggestion to meet with Joe to ensure clarity on the trail markings.
Incident at Robert Morris Park (01:06:31)
Discussion about an incident reported via email involving a mustached person at Robert Morris Park.

An incident was reported via email involving a person with a mustache making someone's daughter cry at Robert Morris Park. It was not included in the director's report but was emailed separately for reference.
Park Passes and Pavilion Rentals (01:07:58)
Clarification on the number of park passes sold and pavilion rentals at Robert Morris and Merrill parks.

There was a discussion about the number of passes sold at Robert Morris Park which are sold alongside pavilion rentals. For Merrill, it is just the rentals. The number of discounted passes was also discussed, noting a decrease in numbers.
Parks and Recreation Commission Chair Email (01:09:15)
Introduction of a new email account for the Parks and Recreation Commission chair for agenda and website access.

A new email account for the Parks and Recreation Commission chair has been created to provide backup and agenda access. This account has not been activated yet but is available for use by whoever is chair.
Library Cooperative Events (01:10:05)
Discussion on cooperative events with the library and the need for volunteers to help.

The meeting discussed potential cooperative events with the library and the need for volunteers to assist if these events go forward. There was a question about whether the library event is indoors or outdoors, which needs clarification.
Christmas Lighting and Budget (01:11:19)
Discussion on Christmas lighting plans at the park and budget considerations for this year.

The committee discussed plans for Christmas lighting in the park, including whether to use a contractor as in past years. Due to budget constraints, it was suggested to possibly cut back on spending on lights and utilize staff for decorations.
Budget Timeline and Planning (01:13:38)
Discussion on the budget timeline and planning for the upcoming year.

There was discussion about the timeline for the budget, which used to be due in October. It was suggested to stay on course and have the budget ready soon. They also planned to meet to review budget lines and projections.
Adjournment (01:14:12)
Motion to adjourn the meeting was made and passed without objections.

The meeting concluded with a call for any member comments or announcements, followed by a motion to adjourn. The motion was passed without any objections.