OIPRD Meets Twice to Take Care of Parks & Rec Business

At the special public meeting of the new Orcas Island Park and Recreation District (OIPRD) on Thursday, March 10, OIPRD  Commissioner heard from rarin’-to-go representatives for a Buck Mountain Trail, the newly-formed Wrestling Team and a Skate Park proponent.

The rec district board also discussed:

• Accounting responsibilities and procedures for the district
• The 2011 budget
• Costs and options for loan borrowing before the district realizes property tax  funds

The board heard public comments from Jeff McKay, Eastsound property owner and former County Commissioner,  and Dan Christofferson, WildLife Cycles Owner, who hope to revive interest in a trail through Buck Mountain property into Eastsound.  The project would require an easement, and the two trail proponents were hoping to enlist OIPRD as the agency to represent the project.

The Buck Mountain trail idea  was brought before the county board of commissioners  three decades ago, and before that, the people of Eastsound petitioned the county for such a road in 1912.. A survey was undertaken in 1913 to make a county road along the trail lines.

McKay and Christofferson have looked through historical archives and talked with leading state real estate lawyer about the trail project. They have located the “non-highway off road vehicle access” (NOVA) grant program to refund  gas tax money to build trails. McKay told the OIPRD Commissioners that the NOVA funds require no matching funds and allow for planning, acquisition, construction, et cetera, up to $100,000 per year.

They asked the OIPRD to be the public agency of record “to make this road happen — a world class trail with incredible history and the opportunity to connect bicycle and equestrian trails.”

McKay added, “The really exciting part about this is I think it could be done with very little money spent by park and rec.”

OIPRD Commissioner Jim Bredouw, while allowing that at the current time, “I don’t know that we can do anything concrete,” added “We can provide the body provided it doesn’t take any manpower or money.”

“At the moment, we’re only in a position to be a conduit to programs that already exist; in a year or two, parks and rec can become active in creating programs,” Bredouw said.

Jason Dean, Tom Gossett and Joshua Rivas, the coaches for the newly-formed Orcas Island Wrestling Squad, next reported to the OIPRD that the wrestling team is registered with USA Wrestling and has privately raised $3,000. Team member Joey Susol took second in his weight class at the squad’s first tournament in Federal Way last week.

The coaches said that they had raised the funds for this current season and are set up at Camp Orkila for the next couple of months. “We want to be on the radar for next year,” the three men said.

In particular, they asked for help in getting mat time at the Orcas School gym. After conferring with Athletic Coach Dennis Dahl, they leaned they can get gym time from 7 to 8 a.m. They will need storage space and additional time to set up and store the large-size wrestling mats, which have already been acquired.

The wrestling coaches said that the mats could be used year round for activities besides wrestling, such as yoga and gymnastics.

Following several business-related discussions, Thomas  Leonard asked the OIPRD to consider needed repairs to the skate park located at Buck Park, which is currently owned and maintained by the school district.

The Park and Rec District members said that the repairs  should be considered in light of the negotiations with the School District to purchase or lease Buck Park.  OIPRD . members talked about the need to build maintenance into any property acquisition, and also the need to publish the “useful life” of  district investments so that the public is aware of the ongoing nature of park and rec district funding needs.

Chair Martha Farish said, “When we fix things, we have to build the timeline in them for deterioration. We have to fix it right the first time and know on the other end what we have to be salting away.

“Our job is longevity here; it’s ongoing maintenance.”

The Commissioners had met for a regular meeting earlier in the day to consider office space, computer systems, insurance and program issues; they called the Special Meeting in the evening to consider financial management and interim funding until proceeds from the 2012 property tax levy are available for OIPRD use.

The OIPRD commissioners agreed to have San Juan  County manage the Orcas district’s accounting,  and provide the necessary documentation for establishing them with state and federal agencies. The county’s $750 cost to provide those services then led into a discussion about obtaining funds needed to operate the Park & Rec district in the next year and a half.

The County will audit the OIPRD accounting records and report to the state, and provide certain reports to the Park and Rec District. The OIPRD next will set board policy for accounting procedures, including personnel and bookkeeping systems.

Bredouw said, “We’ll have to borrow money to do anything this year. I’m not sure what the  course of action will be and what attendant costs will be. ”

In addition to borrowing funds for establishment and operations of the district, it will need to pay for the services of a bond attorney if it borrows money to be repaid with property tax levy proceeds in 2013.

Payback timelines, issuance fees, interest were discussed, in addition to the one-time expenses and contingency funds that make up the principal amount needed for the OIPRD budget.

The Orcas Parks and Recreation District was formed by voter approval of the new government body in November 2009. The five commissioners are  Bredouw, Bob Eagan, Farish, Ian Lister and Vicki Vandermay. The regular meetings are the first Tuesday of each month at the Eastsound Fire Hall from noon to 2 p.m.