SCPD board updates pandemic policy

Seneca County Park District's board Tuesday approved updates to a policy related to pandemics and similar emergencies during a meeting via Zoom online meeting service, and declared an emergency until May 8. The policy was originally approved at the board's special meeting March 26. The updates cleared up possible misunderstandings, said Executive Director Sarah Betts. The board also passed a resolution approving up to $12,000 for a concrete floor for the maintenance building at Garlo Heritage Nature Preserve. The estimate was received from Attica Lumber, Attica. Betts said the floor was part of the building's original plan. In her report, Betts said an agreement has been signed with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to allow water sampling at Steyer Nature Preserve this summer for Ohio EPA. Field staff is to be collecting data from the Sandusky River, including fish and aquatic insects, chemistry, bacteria and physical habitat. Board member Jake Boehler, who also works at Heidelberg University's National Center for Water Quality Research, said the river sampling is part of an ongoing EPA program that rotates around Ohio. Betts said May 1 is the deadline for submitting applications from the 2020 rounds of Community Park Grants. She said six of the 10 communities that received grants in 2018 have submitted final reports. Eden Township has requested an adjustment of usage and extension to the 2018 grant so the funds can be used as part of a larger project and as local matching funds toward another grant. Through the 2018 funding cycle, just over $78,000 was awarded, she said, making it possible for more than $117,000 worth of projects to be completed across Seneca County. She said the grants are designed to be a method of assisting communities, many of which have limited park funding, to provide residents with local park improvements, recreational activities and green space for healthier living. "In times such as these, with the viral breakout, the need for having parks easily accessible and near as many people as possible is even more evident," she said. "The board is pleased to be able to continue to offer this great program to the local communities, which in turn touch and improve so many lives across the county. The benefits of parks are truly endless." Regarding the H2Ohio grant, Betts said ODNR has issued $23,000 of grant funding for paying the contractor chosen by the board – Davey Resource Group. After a project kickoff meeting, she said the firm has begun site surveying and data collection for the project at Fruth Outdoor Center, Fostoria. The project, which is to restore a wooded wetland area, is to be completed this fall. However, it may be delayed because of the COVID-19 outbreak. Either way, she said the project should be completed within ODNR's requested scheduling parameters of June 2021. Betts said a steering committee meeting is to take place this week on the final draft of the countywide comprehensive plan. The schedule had been adjusted due to COVID-19. The final plan is to be provided the week of April 27. Her report said program numbers were down in March due to school cancellations, inclement weather and the coronavirus. "All April programs have been canceled. Instead, we are suggesting the public use the topics of the programs this month to research on their own," Betts said. "Trails are still open to access, sunrise to sunset, while maintaining appropriate social distancing." She said pets should remain on a leash and visitors should not touch other people's pets. The preschool applied for a pandemic license and is open on reduced hours only for the children of essential workers. In his written report, Natural Resources Manager Troy Gibson said volunteer ornithologist Jim Coffman has purple martin towers are up at Galo Heritage Nature Preserve, and Coffman has added more bluebird boxes in preserves, including the Zimmerman Nature Preserve. He provided the board with an photo of the completed, graded parking area at Bowen Nature Preserve. Gibson said work has been done to the buildings at Fruth Outdoor Center, including power washing, plumbing repairs, trim repair, flashing repair, soffit and facia repair, rotted wood replacement, porch post replacement, truss repair, landscaping and general site cleanup. Dog waste stations have been installed at four preserves with the highest concentration of dog walkers and waste along the trails. He said dog waste has the potential of spreading pathogenic bacteria and viruses, including E. coli, salmonella, cryptosporidium and a range of intestinal worms and parasites that can be transmitted to other dogs and wildlife. "Numerous studies have also shown much of the bacteria in our water comes from pet waste," he said. "Visitors are encouraged to clean up after their pet when bringing them to the nature preserves." He reminded park visitors about pet leash laws and regulations in all of the preserves. "All of our parks and preserves are currently pet friendly," he said. "However, most state and federal nature preserves do not allow pets. They can introduce disease, spread invasive species and interfere with scientific studies conducted in preserves. Leaving your pet off leash attracts confrontation with other pets and owners, disturbs the wildlife in the nature preserve and can make the overall visit unpleasant for other visitors." He asked pet owners to act responsibly. Gibson said project planned for summer include repairs to the blacksmith shop at Garlo preserve, and a Boy Scout project to replace a wheelchair ramp at one of the cabins. The board's next meeting is to take place at 8:30 a.m. May 12, via Zoom if required or at the park office if not.