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Michiana council hears park lawn and irrigation progress; tree board reports MDNR-funded plantings
Summary
Council members described completion of a new park lawn and an associated irrigation project, with staff planning pump installation in November and daily water testing reported to EGLE; the Tree Board reported five MDNR-funded trees planted Sept. 25 and proposed Monarch Watch certification for a butterfly garden.
Village council members reported progress on the park lawn project, the new irrigation system and recent tree plantings, and answered a resident’s question about ongoing upkeep costs.
Resident Kathleen Hogan Morrison asked whether the new lawn would create additional maintenance costs; council members said no additional cost is expected and that routine mowing, leaf clean-up and watering of new trees will continue under existing arrangements. Councilmember Mike Mumper said the village contracted with Down to Earth for the park irrigation system, that monthly water reports have been submitted to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) and that daily water testing is being performed by staff.
Mumper said Merritt is preparing a project plan that will be sent to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for approval as one regulatory step; staff will compile bids after EPA review. A new pump has been procured and staff plan to install it in November when usage typically drops so crews can operate on a single pump during the swap. Hydrant flushing will occur over the next couple of weeks.
Tree Board chair Nancy Thill reported that the MDNR grant financed five trees planted Sept. 25 (a Black Gum, two Ironwoods, a Dogwood and a Sugar Maple), installed by Sawyer Garden and protected by newly placed metal fencing to deter deer. Thill said the Garden Club has volunteers lined up for spring plantings, discussed border placement between turf and native plants for the planned butterfly garden, and proposed registering the site with Monarch Watch as part of a day‑camp engagement plan. Thill also noted that the contract with Pizzo Gardens (for herbicide treatment and site preparation) dates to January 2021 and that the cleared area will be ready for seeding by hand in mid‑November.
The council confirmed routine fertilizing and mowing schedules for the new lawn (initial fertilize/mow, another round in November, and again in spring) and thanked staff for irrigation work. No new funding requests or budget figures were raised during the discussion; the Tree Board said it will work planting numbers into the next budget cycle.
