Metroparks Toledo enlarged its land holdings, acquiring three parcels, two in the Oak Openings area and one in Toledo.
At the December 20 meeting, the park commissioners approved the purchases, the largest of which comprises 40.5 acres at 5150 Whitehouse Spencer Road in Whitehouse.
The acreage was bought for $563,000 from the Estate of Jeanette Pollock and Frederick Sakel Trust.
Tim Schetter, chief natural resources officer, said the property is in the Oak Openings corridor adjacent to 32 acres of land acquired by the park district.
“Prior to acquisition, this property was the largest tract of unprotected forested wetlands remaining in Swanton Township and one of the largest private tracts of intact Oak Openings habitat anywhere in Ohio,” he explained.
The property features a mosaic of upland oak woodlands and savannas sitting on ancient sand dunes reaching up to 10 feet in height, interspersed with groundwater-fed forested wetlands between the dunes, Mr. Schetter continued.
He noted there are a number of black and white oak trees that are more than 100 years old.
Metroparks received a $438,000 grant from the Clean Ohio Fund to purchase the parcel, and an anonymous donor contributed $146,000.
The second property, encompassing four acres, was purchased from Kimberly Steinmetz for $48,000.
Located at 0 Weckerly Road, Monclova, the parcel of vacant land is adjacent to 218 acres of Metroparks property and features forested flatwoods and remnant upland prairie communities. Metroparks received $42,500 from a Clean Ohio Fund grant for the purchase.
The third parcel, at 911 Bassett Street, Toledo, is the smallest at 0.128 acres. Purchased from the Lucas County Land Reutilization Corporation for $300, the property is adjacent to Manhattan Marsh Preserve.
“The property serves as an important buffer to protect the scenic viewshed of the park,” said Mr. Schetter, adding, “No park improvements are planned on the property at this time.”
He expressed appreciation to the Land Bank for “facilitating the purchase.”
2024 Budget
The commissioners unanimously approved a budget of $61.52 million for fiscal year 2024.
Matt Cleland, chief financial officer, expects 2024 to begin with an estimated carryover balance of $18.3 million.
He estimates revenues for the general fund at $33.43 million with appropriations of $23.26 million. The largest portion is dedicated to salaries and fringe benefits, $11.21 million and $3.6 million respectively.
In the capital construction fund, $1.99 million was appropriated. Other funds for which funds have been appropriated are land acquisition, $9,135; Cardinal, $406,921; Buckeye, $300,000; law enforcement, $5,000; education, $1.5 million; members, $425,750; federal grants, $9.36 million; land development, $100,000; wetland mitigation, $71,364; treehouse capital, $180,000; Glass City Riverwalk, $8.18 million; state grants, $1.3 million; local and other grants, $56,311; and debt service, $3.84 million.
Other Business
In other business, the park commissioners:
•Issued a $250,000 purchase order to Terrabilt, Inc., for procurement of signage for all park locations.
•Engaged the law firm of Marshall & Melhorn, LLC to provide legal services in 2024 for a cost not to exceed $270,000.
The board also amended the 2023 legal services contract by $35,000 to reflect an increase in legal expenses. The new total is $210,000.
Fritz Byers, park commissioner, explained that the increase is due to park expansion and costs associated with it.
•Authorized a payment of $550,000 to Enterprise Fleet Management for fleet vehicle rental services in 2024.
•Allotted $243,407 to WEX Enterprise for the purchase of gasoline and diesel fuel in 2024.
•Approved the annual workers’ compensation premium of $178,582.
•Issued a blanket purchase order of $1.47 million for 2024 utility costs districtwide. Metroparks receives utilities from 27 companies.
•Contracted with Republic Services and Waste Management for recycling and waste disposal services at all parks for $110,000.
The board also amended the 2023 contract for recycling and waste disposal. The cost for service exceeded the original $95,000 by $15,000 as a result of the park district adding waste pickup locations.
•Approved a purchase order of up to $90,000 for the payment of bank fees in 2024.
The majority of those are merchant services or credit card processing fees, the CFO explained.
•Authorized the purchase of liability insurance in 2024 from Hylant Administrative Services at a cost not to exceed $250,000.
Mr. Cleland explained that the 20 percent increase over the previous year is due, in large part, to coverage of new facilities and properties.
Without those, the increase would have been 5 percent, which is appropriate given inflation, he said.
•Issued a purchase order of $1.95 million for 2024 health insurance through Lucas County.
Mr. Cleland said the higher number represents a 9 percent increase, and added that Metroparks has “enjoyed very stable rates in the past.”
•Issued a purchase order for $150,000 for payment of real estate taxes in 2024.
•Approved the sale of pine timber to Roger Perkins Logging LLC of Chillicothe for $9 per ton for pine pulpwood and pine saw timber, and $3 per ton for soft hardwood.
Proceeds from the sale will be used to restore pine harvest areas, restore native Oak Openings habitats and regrade impacted trails.
•Authorized tree removal at Oak Openings Preserve for $82,500. Lake Erie Tree Service LLC of Oregon will fell trees, remove stumps, logs and tops, and clear debris from the 7.5-acre site, explained LaRae Sprow, natural resources supervisor.
She said the company will comply with “restrictions associated with the protection of Indiana bats and northern long-eared bats. The work will be complete by October 20.”
•Contracted with MKSK for master planning and schematic design services for International Park at a cost of $3.17 million.
•Approved the purchase and installation of playground surfacing at the Glass City Park ravine area. The equipment will be purchased from GameTime Inc. for $78,227.
•Awarded Taylor Excavating Inc. of Delta a project that entails construction of a six-inch water main to serve Cannaley Treehouse Village at a cost of $136,308. The project will be completed by May 31, explained Doug Parrish, project engineer.
•Ratified payables for November totaling $4.58 million.
The next park board meeting will be at 8:30 a.m., Wednesday, January 24, in Ward Pavilion at Wildwood Metropark, 5100 Central Avenue, Toledo, and is open to the public.
