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Trustees discuss park signage, alcohol-for-events, and $150,000 restroom grant application
Summary
Trustees heard park updates on mulch, drainage and a playground sign installation; staff asked whether the board would approve per-event alcohol sales for a March ribbon-cutting and described a pending $150,000 reimbursement-style grant application for a restroom project.
Darren, the township’s park steward/zoning enforcement staff, told trustees on Jan. 12 that newly planted trees at the community park have been mulched and that staff are addressing drainage and standing water on the trails. He said the playground is now fully compliant and a 4-by-6-foot playground sign should be installed in early February.
Darren asked whether the board would consider a per-event resolution to allow alcohol sales at the park’s March ribbon-cutting so donors could sell alcohol and return proceeds to the park. “They want to possibly have the sale of alcohol there, and then they would donate that money back to the township,” Darren said. Trustees agreed there is no automatic prohibition but noted several logistical steps — including liquor licensing and liability coverage — that would need to be resolved before the township could permit any alcohol sales.
Darren also said the township has an active grant search for a restroom at the park. He reported an application submitted in November for a $150,000 reimbursement-style grant and said the project could be stacked with other grants and donations; a multi-hundred-thousand-dollar total project cost was discussed using recent nearby projects (Hanover cited at roughly $450,000) as examples. Trustees discussed matching funds, reimbursement mechanics, and possible funding sources; Darren said he could accept the grant and then use a three-year window to fund match requirements or return funds if the township chose not to proceed.
Board members raised governance and oversight questions as they discussed creating a formal park board under the Ohio Revised Code. One trustee cited ORC sections regarding park-commission structure and duties and suggested a 3- or 5-member park board to manage fundraising, maintenance and events. Trustees also asked for a detailed accounting of every dollar spent on the park to date — including grant, donation and American Rescue Plan allocations — and asked the fiscal office to prepare that report for public review.
No formal vote was taken on forming a park board at the meeting; trustees asked staff to bring additional information and to invite Hamilton Community Foundation staff (Jacob) to explain the township’s investment arrangement at a future meeting.
