Minutes - February 27, 2019
NOBLE COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD
MINUTES OF THE FEBRUARY 27, 2019 MEETING
(As corrected March 27, 2017)
Present: Ray Scott, Scott Allen, James Haddock, John Metzger, Doug Keenan.
Guests: Matt Getts, KPC Media; Kenneth Hughes, Noble County Plan Commission.
The February 27, 2019 meeting of the Noble County Parks and Recreation Board was called to order by President Ray Scott at 10:00 AM.
The Minutes of the December 5, 2018 meeting were approved as sent.
Old Business:
Election of Officers:
The officers for the 2019 year were elected as follows: President – Ray Scott; Vice President – Scott Allen; Secretary – Doug Keenan.
Five Year Master Plan Update:
Kenneth Hughes, Director of the Noble County Plan Commission, presented a draft of the Five Year Master Plan Update for Noble County Parks and Recreation. Kenneth sent the first draft to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and received comments back for the update. The Board reviewed the draft update. Jim Haddock noted that the population in Noble County is stable and is aging. The Board noted that that we need a two-pronged approach to recreation to address this situation – we need passive recreation opportunities that are less strenuous for our older population, and we need active recreational opportunities to attract younger people to migrate to Noble County.
The next meeting of the Noble County Parks and Recreational Board, scheduled for March 27, will be the final hearing for the Five Year Plan Update, and then the final draft will be approved by the Board and submitted to IDNR.
Elkhart River:
Kenneth Hughes met with IDNR to discuss options for the Elkhart River. IDNR would like to put in a boat launch on the Elkhart River in the Cosperville area. Kenneth will check with the landowner and the Noble County Commissioners on securing the land for this project. IDNR will pay for the installation of the boat launch.
Website/Facebook Page:
Scott Allen noted that the Noble County Parks and Recreation Facebook Page is up and running, and receiving “likes”. No pictures of winter recreation activities have been posted to the page yet. When the Five Year Master Plan Update is completed, it will be posted to the Website and Facebook Page.
Noble Trails:
Scott Allen reported that Noble Trails will be hosting a 5K Run on Saturday April 27. Information will be available at www.nobletrails.org . Noble Trails submitted a Next Level Grant Application for work on the trail from Kendallville to Avilla. This will be a five mile trail. They should be hearing about this grant in June.
“Take a Stroll” Program:
The Noble County Parks and Recreation Board will promote and encourage other activities in the county in lieu of the Take A Stroll Program.
New Business:
Board Member Appointments
Doug Keenan passed around the Board of Directors list. Ray Scott and Scott Allen’s terms expired in 2018. Ray Scott is appointed by the Noble County Council and Scott Allen is appointed by the Circuit Court Judge. Doug will follow up on the appointments.
Meeting adjourned at 11:00 AM.
Next meeting – Wednesday, March 27, 2019 at the Central Noble Public Library.