Commission to consider parks operations guide, Manuka general store build‑out and reimbursement for Manuka Park acquisition

Chilton County officials asked commissioners to adopt a parks and recreation operations guide and to approve a one‑time build‑out and startup inventory for a Manuka Park general store to be paid from a dedicated rental revenue fund; staff also reported a pending ADECA reimbursement tied to the county's acquisition of Manuka Park.

Commissioner Perkins presented a proposed Chilton County Parks & Recreation general information, rules and operating procedures handbook and said he will ask the Commission to adopt it by resolution so that park rules, hours and pricing are uniform across Higgins Ferry and Manuka parks. "This guide is gonna be adopted by the commission and at times may require supplemental additions or deletions," he said. Perkins said the guide will be posted on RoverPass and the county website after adoption and that it is not intended to replace day‑to‑day operational direction by park staff.

Perkins and others also asked the Commission to approve an approximate $15,000 initial build‑out and inventory for a Manuka general store — shelving, point‑of‑sale hardware (Square) and initial stock — to be paid from a CECA (rental) revenue source created by prior resolution. "This would include the build out, the wall units, shelving, things like that for the inventory to go on, and then the inventory," Perkins said. He said the revenue source derives from rental income previously earmarked for park uses and that using that dedicated revenue avoids using general tax dollars.

Grant staff also reported that a reimbursement request submitted May 2 for the Manuka Park acquisition has been in processing with ADECA; grant staff said the county expects roughly "a little shy of $400,000" but had not received the reimbursement as of the work session. "We submitted that to Adecca, the full package... It's about they owe us about little shy of $400,000," Stallman said.

Commissioners debated park rental pricing. Park director Mr. Giles and commissioners said pavilion rental at Higgins Ferry is currently set at $100 per day to encourage use and cover incidental expenses; some commissioners said the fee may be low for large events, but the Commission did not change pricing at the work session.

Perkins said the Commission will vote on the handbook and the Manuka general store build‑out in the regular meeting rather than placing them on the consent agenda. He also said two iPads would be purchased to run reservations and store sales and that the purchase will be included in the next item he brings forward.

No formal votes were taken at the work session. Commissioners asked staff to include the handbook and the Manuka store request on the next regular meeting agenda and to provide any additional budget detail for the store build‑out.