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Montcalm County approves routine contracts, park rate increases and reviews parks ordinance draft
Summary
At its Jan. 12 meeting the board approved a sheriff canteen amendment, a Reynolds Township police contract, multiple warrant reports and new Ford Lincoln park rental rates, placed several consent items on file and instructed staff to refine a redlined parks ordinance (including a ban on fireworks/torpedoes).
The Montcalm County Board of Commissioners approved a slate of routine contracts and fee changes at its Jan. 12 meeting and directed staff to finalize a parks ordinance draft for public review.
On the consent and action side, the board:
- Approved a sheriff's canteen food service amendment that increases county costs by roughly $0.07 per meal (motion carried by voice vote). - Approved a renewal to provide 500 deputy patrol hours to Reynolds Township for $25,000 (motion carried by voice vote). - Approved five warrant reports covering dates in December 2025 and January 2026 totaling about $2.06 million (motion carried by voice vote). - Placed consent agenda items 9 through 11 on file, including the Veterans Treatment Court grant documentation (informational).
The board also voted to change rental rates for Ford Lincoln park: weekly rate to $2,000, weekend rate to $1,000, and weekday rate to $500; Crump and McCarthy pavilions will remain at current rates. Commissioners discussed percentage increases, resident access, and a recommendation to review rates annually.
In a separate staff‑led review, commissioners examined a redlined parks ordinance. Key takeaways from that discussion included clarifying reservation language so that prior payment is required to reserve a facility, requiring vendor authorization for sales in county parks (and reserving the right to revoke authorization), improving signage for designated parking areas, and an explicit prohibition on torpedoes, rockets and similar fireworks except by director permit. The board directed staff to clean up the ordinance language, develop park‑specific rules (for items such as whether an entire park can be rented exclusively), and schedule a public hearing in February before final adoption.
The board adopted a housekeeping resolution honoring the Montebello schools football team and adjourned the meeting.
No additional votes on the parks ordinance draft were taken at this meeting; staff will return a revised ordinance and park rules at a later meeting for public hearings and final action.
