Parks trustees’ plan accepted; commissioners ask legal review before timber sale at Lewis Henry Park

The Hillsdale County Board of Commissioners voted to accept the five‑year plan presented by the county parks trustees and discussed a parks trustees’ proposal to selectively harvest trees at Lewis Henry Park to improve forest health.

Parks Director Mike Wertz told the board he had received three estimates and expects that timber sales could return about $40,000 to put back into park projects, including repairs and pond maintenance. Mike characterized the harvest as selective work to remove unhealthy trees and to allow younger growth to prosper, with most work occurring away from high‑use areas and cleanup performed by contractors.

Commissioners raised two procedural concerns: whether deed restrictions from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources would permit timber sales on the parcel and whether the county’s asset disposal policy has been followed. One commissioner asked whether legal counsel had reviewed the deed; parks staff had not yet done that research and agreed to return to the parks trustees and the board with findings. Finance staff reminded the board that proceeds from disposing of a county asset typically flow to the county general fund and are not automatically appropriated to the parks trustees without a separate budget amendment.

The board did not authorize immediate sale. Instead, commissioners asked the parks trustees to seek legal counsel about deed restrictions, comply with asset‑disposal bidding procedures if expected to proceed, and return with a plan for appropriation if proceeds are to be requested for park projects.