Commissioners approve $30,000 parks operating transfer, OK $10,000 dog-park plan amid reimbursements and capital projects

Williams County commissioners on April 17 approved a $30,000 transfer to the county parks operating budget and agreed to leave several small project carryovers in the parks fund while staff pursue reimbursements and capital grants.

The action followed a presentation from parks staff that summarized the department’s cash position and upcoming capital work. Parks cash on hand stood at roughly $46,000, staff said; the department typically budgets about $30,000 a year for operations. Staff asked for the $30,000 transfer to cover mowing, seasonal wages and materials while they pursue reimbursements for completed capital work.

Why it matters: commissioners and staff said the transfer is intended to keep routine maintenance on schedule while capital projects move through reimbursement cycles, and to avoid repeated short transfers during the year.

Parks staff told the board they plan to move $10,000 from carryover into a dog-park account; that $10,000 was discussed separately from the $30,000 operating request. Staff also asked that small leftover balances from completed projects be zeroed out and left in the parks account to reduce accounting complexity next year.

Finance and project details Parks staff said one outstanding item is reimbursement for force-account work on a bridge project completed in 2023. The department reported $17,860.76 in reimbursable labor and equipment costs that were posted against the parks account and need to be moved back to the county’s gas-tax (A&G) account. The board approved leaving those funds in the parks account temporarily so staff can complete the paperwork and move the reimbursement to the proper fund.

On another capital item, staff described a $20,000 ODNR pump grant with a $400 administrative deduction, leaving $19,600 available for a pond aeration/pump project. Staff said earlier estimates put the pump project near $28,000 but recent quotes indicate lower equipment costs and the electrical work is being re-quoted; staff said they hope final pricing will come in below the earlier estimate. The county plans to buy four pumps, set them in the spring and remove them before winter; staff said installation and some bank cleanup will be contracted.

Small project carryovers included a $585.51 remainder from a 2021 disc-golf donation and $2,610.53 remaining in the Bible Park (Bridge) project after the $17,860.76 reimbursement is moved. Staff recommended closing those project accounts and leaving the small balances in the parks fund for maintenance.

Board action and next steps Commissioners approved a motion that (1) leaves the small project balances in the parks fund so staff can finish closeouts and (2) authorizes the $30,000 transfer to the parks operating budget. Staff said they will return next year with a refined operating request after final reimbursements and project closeouts clarify carryover levels.

Community context Staff and commissioners emphasized that the parks system — which includes Wabash Trail, Goldie Newman Park, Bible Park and other sites — is maintained with a combination of volunteer labor, small operating dollars and grant-funded capital projects. Commissioners and staff noted that leveraging grant funding and keeping small balances available helps the county apply for and manage outside grants.

Ending note Staff said moving the reimbursements and closing small projects will take some bookkeeping over the coming weeks; the county will re-evaluate parks carryover before next year’s budget and expects to report back on the aerator and pump quotes when they are complete.