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Zoo reports hail damage repairs and new grants; board approves endowment expenditures
Summary
Park staff reported hail-related roof damage across park structures, the zoo passed a USDA pop-up inspection, the Zoological Society received several grants, and the board approved endowment invoices for zoo maintenance materials.
Park Department staff told the Michigan City Parks and Recreation Board that a hailstorm last May caused roof damage across park structures and the zoo, resulting in 45 roofs needing repair or replacement. Staff said some underlying rot discovered during repairs falls outside insurance coverage and will require additional expense approvals from the board in future meetings.
The zoo also received a USDA pop-up inspection with no noncompliance issues, staff said, and the Michigan City Zoological Society reported several recent grants: $650 from NIPSCO, $1,000 from Fidelity Charitable and $10,000 from the Frederick and Rosemary Menon Foundation. The society is using those funds for zoo events and programming; staff said ticketing information for summer events such as the Brew at the Zoo and a July 13 5K will be posted online.
Separately, the board approved invoices from the zoo endowment: $943.38 paid to Lowe’s for deck boards and screws used in avian fence maintenance. A motion to accept the endowment invoices carried by voice vote.
Staff said they will return to the board with requests for additional repair funding where insurance does not cover rot or other construction defects.
