Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks And Recreation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board refers Windermere Township's $32,000 pier request back to Land Advisory Committee after contested testimony
Summary
Following testimony from Windermere vice chair Tony Bakhtiari and a debate over contract overruns and possible DNR funding, the board voted to refer the township's request for up to $32,000 toward a pier to the Land Advisory Committee for further review and notification to township representatives.
Windermere Township representatives asked the Pine County Board to consider contributing toward a fishing pier; the initial ask was $32,000, according to township vice chair Tony Bakhtiari. Commissioners disputed whether homeowner-driven extras (driveway blacktopping and landscaping) caused overruns and debated whether to wait for DNR funding, which can take a year.
Tony Bakhtiari, who identified himself as "the vice chair for Windermere Township," said homeowners paid for some blacktopping and defended the township's request as addressing a public-safety and recreational need. Commissioners noted the DNR has funding for fishing piers but that the process could delay work. One commissioner summarized the disagreement over who paid extra costs and said staff believed overruns were caused by homeowners' requests.
After new information surfaced and multiple commissioners urged time to "digest" details, the board amended a motion and voted to refer the request back to the Land Advisory Committee so the township can attend committee review and the board can consider additional funding options. The referral passed on a voice vote.
The board directed staff to notify Windermere Township of the committee meeting and to explore DNR options alongside potential county contributions. No county funding was approved at the meeting; the request will return to committee for further vetting.
