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Sullivan County parks and grants staff propose larger engineering budget, humane beaver controls and expanded litter cleanup
Summary
Parks and recreation reported prep for the season, requested added funding for Fisher Associates’ design and engineering work, said staff are exploring humane beaver controls, and recommended expanding the county 'litter pluck' program to shorelines; grants staff promoted a new grants program coordinator and public grant-preparation webinars.
Planning and parks staff reported the county’s parks and recreation preparations for the upcoming season, including outreach to returning seasonal employees, lifeguard certification scheduling and trail maintenance.
The committee packet included two resolutions related to parks and recreation. Staff described a request to authorize additional funding for Fisher Associates to provide general design and engineering services for parks projects; the money would come from the general grants administration line. Staff said the approach is intended to avoid piecemeal emergency authorizations for small scopes by completing preliminary designs and cost estimates in advance.
Parks staff also discussed persistent beaver-related flooding on trails and canals and said they are exploring nonlethal options, such as “beaver deceivers” and culvert design changes to reduce repeated damage and relocations. Staff noted that repeated trapping or relocation has not solved recurring damming in the same locations.
The county said it plans to expand the “litter pluck” program beyond roadways and trails to include water bodies and shorelines.
On grants administration, the county promoted Jen Perito to grants program coordinator and credited her and Art Hussey with producing training materials and webinars that county departments have found useful. Staff said they plan to post a general grants-preparation webinar aimed at nonprofits and local organizations before the next Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) season.
No formal vote on the Fisher Associates funding request is recorded in the excerpt of the transcript provided; the parks items were described in the staff report and were part of resolution items on the agenda.
