Voters passed two Jackson County wide property tax increases in Tuesday’s election. Both Animal Shelter and Parks millages got thumbs up. Of particular interest to Clark Lake is the County Parks issue since it will affect the future of the County Park at the east end of the lake. If the decision had been left to Columbia Township voters, the tax would have been defeated.
The property tax amounts to 0.5 mils. The annual cost to a property valued at $100,000 will be $25 per year. That will generate $2,180,000 annually (see Parks Department campaign literature in this earlier story). It’s expected that the revenue would significantly exceed needs in the first few years, according to Jeff Hovarter. The excess revenue would be invested and draw interest in anticipation of inflation that would drive up park expenses as the 20 year plan proceeded.
What does the Parks Department have in mind?
- Draw more of the public to the park
- Connect the Clark Lake Spirit Trail to other trails throughout the County. (The Clark Lake Spirit Trial is supported entirely by the community and was built and is maintained without tax dollars).
- Create a “real” playground in the County Park.
- Picnic shelters and event shelters
- Public restrooms
- Improve the shoreline at the Park
- Install fishing pier
- Boat launch
On June 11, Jeff Horvater outlined the Parks Department vision for Clark Lake. View it here.
[youtube]https://youtu.be/KTu93lWMXGQ[/youtube]
These improvements will be made to the park on the east end of CL. The west end park is a township park. The west end park obviously needs less usage & the east end park needs more usage. I spoke with Jeff today about my concerns & thoughts on improving the east end park to share the usage. He was very willing to listen & encouraged involvement from citizens. Feel free to call him at the parks dept. in Jackson.
I would have voted NO on this issue.