Mount Pleasant councilor outlines plan for special recreation district covering North Sankey area

Councilmember Kate presented an informational plan at the Mount Pleasant City Council meeting June 10 to create a special service recreation district that would align with the North Sankey School District boundaries and take on regional recreational programs and facilities.

The proposal, described by Kate as “just for information only. We’re not voting on anything,” would move recreation funding and program administration from a single city to a district representing multiple municipalities and county residents. Kate said the change would not automatically create a new tax; any tax would require a separate vote.

Advocates say a district encompassing the North Sankey school district would let multiple cities and county residents pool resources, make the region eligible for larger grants and public–private partnerships, and eventually support a community recreation center. Kate said the intent is to reduce Mount Pleasant’s disproportionate share of recreation costs and to create a sustainable funding structure that could include grants, user fees and interlocal contributions.

Under the timeline given in the meeting, organizers plan to begin signature-gathering in July and to hold town-hall meetings in August. The presenter said state petition rules require signatures from 10% of registered voters within the proposed district to begin formation; the presenter reported about 7,500 registered voters in the proposed boundary and said 10% would therefore be roughly 750 signatures, though organizers are aiming to gather 1,000 to ensure the threshold is met.

Kate described subsequent steps as a 60-day public hearing period after petition submission and a target to have the district established by January 26 (date cited by the presenter). The district board size was discussed informally — the presenter suggested a seven-member board — and Kate said current recreation staff could transfer employment to the district, saying, “Eventually, she’d probably be employed by the service district instead of by Mount Pleasant City,” when referring to the city’s recreation employee, Stephanie.

Questions from council members focused on funding mechanics and overlap with an impact-fee study previously discussed for parks. A council member asked whether the district would replace impact fees; the presenter replied that the impact-fee discussion under consideration concerned park infrastructure and would be a separate policy choice.

Kate emphasized the proposal is a first step to “get awareness going” and asked council members and residents to support signature-gathering and attend upcoming outreach events. No motion or formal vote on creating the district occurred in the June 10 meeting.