Montcalm County commissioners on Monday directed county staff to draft a revised park ordinance after discussing complaints and lessons from a trial season of full-park rentals.

Board members said the existing ordinance — adopted in 2001 and originally tied to grant compliance — is outdated and contains provisions that do not reflect current county practices or neighborhood concerns. Commissioners debated whether to allow exclusive, full-park rentals for festivals and similar events; several said they favor continuing to rent pavilions (the county’s long-standing practice) but not to rent an entire park exclusively, citing neighborhood disruptions and enforcement challenges.

The board asked County Controller Brenda to take a first pass drafting a revised ordinance that would reflect current rules and provide clearer event parameters, such as insurance requirements, traffic and safety planning and whether exclusive use will be permitted. Commissioners discussed enforcement practicality and the need to avoid policies that could appear discriminatory; several suggested public safety input and clear, objective criteria for approvals. Brenda said she would prepare a redlined draft for the board to review at a future meeting.

No formal ordinance action was taken at the meeting; instead the board provided direction to staff to produce a revised ordinance or a rewritten version for consideration.