Brandon Twp.- Concern over decreased participation in recreation programs is prompting a second look at the $60 non-resident fee the township board implemented earlier this year.
‘We’re revisiting the issue, because we’re concerned it’s hurting participation levels,? said Trustee Bob DeWitt. ‘Between people not being able to afford it and being upset about the fee, we’re considering a reduction.?
DeWitt, along with Trustees Tom Stowell and Charlene Carlson, joined Recreation Director Fred Waybrant on a committee formed several weeks ago to investigate issues regarding recreation.
In February, the board unanimously voted to increase the non-resident fee for participation in recreation programs from $10 to $60 per event and participant, or $125 per family annual fee. The decision was made after Groveland Township officials declined to increase their $15,000 annual contribution to $42,144 to sufficiently fund the recreation program for their residents, 388 of whom participated in Brandon recreation programs last year. Groveland officials took their decision to not increase the funding one step further and withdrew their previous annual contribution, saying their residents were polled and preferred a user fee.
‘My own feeling on the issue is that I believe the number we picked as a board was too high and has impacted participation, but I also believe we are subsidizing Groveland residents,? DeWitt said.
‘I’m not against reducing the figures, but I don’t like subsidizing Groveland. The same thing happened with the library, and it’s the same thing that will pop up with the school liaison officer.
If the township picks up his tab, then Groveland gets the benefit for free. It’s just another example of that issue.?
DeWitt was referring to a recent decision by the Brandon School Board to not renew Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Detective Arnie Terrell’s contract as school liaison officer.
Township Supervisor Ron Lapp said he would recommend at the July 7 board meeting that the township fund the full salary of the liaison officer, a move that would retain his services for Brandon and Groveland students.
His library reference pertained to a request by library officials in 2003 that Groveland agree to a yearly contract of $190,686 to cover about 2,430 library cards for their residents. At that time, Groveland was contributing about $25,000 annually, or three percent of library operating revenue. The Groveland board turned down the request. The library later won a lawsuit brought by the school board against the library, and went forward with a plan to charge Groveland residents a library card fee, $6 per student, and $100 for all other individuals, or $150 for a family.
Besides the increased non-resident fee, Stowell said the committee also wants to address with the board their discussions on recreation fees in general and the opportunity for travel soccer teams to play on the fields at the community park, recently opened at Oakwood and Hadley roads.
‘We plan to initiate discussion at the July 7 board meeting,? Stowell said. ‘We’re going to suggest there be adjustment in non-resident fees, to lower them; that we reinstitute the family plan in which a certain amount is paid for the first child in the program, and lesser amounts for subsequent children; and thirdly, we’ll make a recommendation that the travel soccer teams use the new fields.?