Orion Township residents could soon be asked again to weigh in with their opinions on the parks and recreation department.
Parks and recreation director Rock Blanchard asked township trustees on Aug. 15 to approve having a request for proposals (RFP) prepared, to find a professional company to conduct a parks and recreation survey.
Township trustees authorized the preparation of RFPs and recommended the parks and recreation advisory committee research and offer a list of companies to consider hiring to conduct the survey.
Board members said the RFP and company would have to come back to them for approval before the survey could be conducted.
Approximately $15,000 is budgeted for this year in the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) planning for the survey.
‘We can use CDBG funds if we do the survey as part of our master plan process,? Blanchard said. ‘We’ll be asking people questions about things as far as facilities and programs…it’s not a total survey, it’d be a random survey.?
According to Blanchard, about 1,000 surveys would be sent out.
‘This is just a proposal to get RFPs now,? he said. ‘Then we will decide who and how to do it. We’ll be looking for a professional group to administer it.?
Treasurer Alice Young felt it was confusing to call the survey part of the master plan.
Earlier in the meeting on Aug. 15, the board voted to have a more detailed plan and cost estimate submitted for constructing an amphitheater at Civic Center Park on Joslyn Road.
‘I don’t think we should be making any major decisions until you get this done,? she said of the survey.
Blanchard said the township had already held master plan and visioning workshops that pertained to the amphitheater project.
‘Then why do you need a survey?? asked Young.
Blanchard said it has been seven years since the parks and recreation master plan was redone.
‘The township has changed,? he said.
Bastian warned that if a survey was done, parks and recreation should make sure it was a valid one.
‘The township’s done this before, and every time they’ve done it, they’ve gotten the same results,? she said. ‘Let’s at least make sure we’re getting valid results, and not just picking people we want (to respond).?
Bastian questioned the money budgeted for the survey. ‘We should be able to get this done for less,? she said.
Other board members thought maybe the $15,000 budgeted might not be enough money.
‘I think there needs to be a clear definition of exactly what you’re trying to get,? said trustee Matthew Gibb. ‘Maybe we’re not asking for enough money for what (Blanchard) wants.?
Trustee John Garlicki said it was his understanding the survey was just an initial step in a much larger process.
‘Of creating a grander master plan, to satisfy the (Department of Natural Resources) and grant programs,? he said.
Trustee John Steimel said past surveys seemed to have trouble ‘getting a feel for citizens? value systems, especially related to parks and recreation.?
‘If you want something, how much are you willing to pay for it?? he added. ‘I hope if you do this survey, you get some answers.?
Blanchard said deciding the scope of the survey would be part of the process of putting together the RFP.
‘We’re not spending $15,000 to go out for RFPs,? said trustee Michael Gingell. ‘That would be for the survey (itself).?