9.1. SR 01-21-1997 - Laserfiche WebLink

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FRONTIER - WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 1997 - PAGE 3 City votes to seek new recreatic agreement for lO07principars Zimmer[nan will no longer be part o[ Com[nulrity Rocreation progra[n Corner Pat Butch by Tracle Wlvoda Staff wdter The Zimmennan City Conncil recently voted to disconthum participation for 1997 in the seven-coimnu:d- ly Joinl Powe~ r~reation syslem. Pat Burch, a local ~sident and physical education leacher al Zimmerumn Eiemenln~ ~lmol preseu~ ed council member, ~t the Monday, l)ee. 16 meeting, wilh a proposal offe~ng recrealion activilies in Zimmo~na n. "1 Ihel Hint the city and rosidenls ne~ more affo~- able aad nceessible leisn~ th~m aclJvilies,~ Bu~h said. "i just wahl I~ do somel)dng for mir eo~nmu ~u~h prol~oaed a program for lira oily Hint wouhl offer ael~vili~s every day of Ihe week from June 16 through Aug. 15 for n cost of approx- imately $ [3,250. lie also said the cost of ntnning II~e progrmn could bo shared with l,ivouia '~wnshil,, if it wishes to par* I.~eipala in the program. Last year, the city of Zi~erman paid $4,773 for the admhdstratim~ of the seven-commu ~Ly Joint Powers r~ren~on pr~mm, for whioh funds are ~oled by fiv~ eilles and two town- ships, ~ne being Livona. For this yon,-, tho co~l lo Ihe cily The Commu nity Recreation Program pro- vide, a recreation direcler for tile area comprised n£EIk River, O/sega, Dayton, Rogers, Zimmerman plus Livonia and ilnssan town- ships. , Under dir~Oou from the council earlier this year, Bush spent lhe last three months puttit~ t~ether relhni~ry proposal, which e pre.enid ~ the council. ~ aid ldm in this pries., he met with John ~ell ~rom l~e Mi~ea~lis Park Board and ~lked with him shout how the pm~am is n~n in ~iuneapolis. Butch previ- ously worked ~or the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Deparbnent for four 'Due ~ my experience war'ag with the Park and Recreation Deparhnent, know that the conmm~dlies of Zh~ennan and Livonia can provide our children with a much ~ttor and less expensive snl~lHor recre- ation program," he said. '~he summer recre~Hion pm~ will ae~e os ~int ia unif~ug our com- mustily," he added. 'rho pur~ae o~ ~e summer pm- ~am Is lhme fohl: I~ to pm- vide aflbrdable leisure nctiv- itiee ~or our ~mmu nity. 2) pm~de pm~ams tirol are eas~y accessible ~ our com- reunify, and 3) to provide a safe en~m~ent for chil- d~n to experience the po, i- tire benefits of a lmlanced recreation program." According Io Berch. worked closely with a yeti- ely ofhiahly qualified people from the Minneal~dis P~rk and RecreaUon Department and the Becker Commuuily Center. T~ough their gnidance ~nd cooperation, he has d~sign~ a smmner recta- ation program Ibat will address ~e needs of all the ch~dmn in ~e Zi~mnemmn lie pro~su~ to provide all of the same activilies lhat ~re currenlly hoin~ offerv, I in Ibc Zimmcrmn,* a~v~* hy Co~nu~dty Recreafio~ well as adding some other fun activities. Tile activities will be at the Zinnnerman Elesnentary School, as well as at the civic baihling. In comparison to what is being offered throngh Community Rec- reation, the lees for activi- t~es will be considerably less (average $11.85) than what is currently being charged (average $23.85). lis additiosL Ihe program will also save Ihs city money because the assessment charges are less and the insl.mclor fees would come from the regislralJon costs. "Also, by providing afford- ahle leisure activities that are close to home, enroll- meat shouhl lreatlv increase, which will allow more children to lmve an opporhlnity in participate in smmner recreation activi- l~es," he continued. Butch's proposed Summer Recreation Program calls for a tot~! munber of 26 activi- ties, slot including special events. Commanity Recrea- tion offered 15 activilles for clfildren in the Zimmennan area last aUlnlaer. He also stated tlmt ff the council was willing, lie would like to plan and pro- pose a separate recreation hrogram available during e school year, starting in the fall of 1997 and nmrdng through spring, 1998. "I didn't expect Ihesn to make a decision right then and there," he said, "I'm happy that they decided Io o wills it even if I,ivonia oesn't, by seekilkg addition- al sources of ri;remic. I,inda (Frederick) really wailts to see this program work," he added, "A lot had to cio with her encouraging me to put together the proposal for consideralion. "I didn't see a d,~wn side," he continued. "Fmnilies can save money, the city can save Inuney, and more acLiv- flies will be offered for chil- dren to participate ill. Ill a m,lshell, you'w~ ahandolmd a pr()t[iHiin tirol ce. Is Inore. The same type of program can be run offering more activities at a lesser cost." Mayor Linde Frederick staled that she feels that Ihe cii~. could ask for donal~ons from various local organize- lions, and receive at least the added expense of the program over what the city currently pays as a joint powers contribution. Lenz suggested that Frederick, Mayor-elect Ran- dy Hanson and Pat Batch meet with Livonia Township to determine if the town board weald be interested in working with the city au this project. Council then discussed rise status of the joint powers agreement with the Com- munity Recreation Board and reached consensus that the benefits received frmn tile agreement do not justify the expelme. Conncil members present voted to notify the Conununity Recreation director, JeffAs£abl, that the city was offering the reqnired six*month notice, and would be withdrawing from memberslfip with the Cosmnunity Recreation Board. Council fl*rther discussed the possibility of au agree- meat with Livonia Township, Frederick value- teared to serve on a joint powers board for tho newly created joint powers agree- meat, ifit is developed. Lenz .Isled ho weald like to see a five-member board to oper- ate effeclively. Tho council voted to appoint Frederick to sacra ocs tim joint powers board if and when it is fornmd. She was also instructed to seek dunatio,m from local non- profit groups avaUablo for community use, Before the program begins in the spring, Burch will look for instructors, work on caperwork, put together a rochure which will be sent out in March or April, set up regislralion, and schedule field e.d gym time. by Llnda Willlams-Tuenge (Mrs. W-T) Zimmermat~ EletnentaG, School As we look ahead to rise new year and think about tile New Year's resoluUons to make, my thoughts center on children and their needs. Children need: · A sense ofsigcdficancc -- let your children help and be responsible -- respect year chihlren · ~curity -- a seose of ~longing ~ quality time from ~r- -- touching and affec~on * Acceptance -- recognize each child as u~que -- listen when your d~n tslk ' To love and be loved -- love is a learned ~s~nse ~ children model their p~nt's behavior ~ love is ~siblo and s~- ken . Discipline -- for Ihe sake of the child ~ establish limils -- respect the chihl . ~ bo ~ught to appr~i- ate th~ fi~eli~ of others A new year i8 a lime ~flecL As you thiJ~k uhouL whak you have dune ~or your c~ldmn during tho last year and the ne~a you have met, at your~lf on the back and e proud of ~e job you have done. With those ar~s you may have neglected, think about working a bit harder on meeting those needs dur- lng 1997, llappy New Year from the slaff at ~mmerumn Elcmenlary~ ADVERTISING IF ONLY