The Watson Township Boad Thursday accepted the bid of $335,557 from NextGen Construction LLC to do the construction work this year on the Seven Generations Park.
The recreational park at the intersection of M-222 and 16th Street in Watson Township is getting closer to reality after the ribbon cutting took place last fall. A big part of the funding will be covered by a $200,000 grant from the Michigan Department of Environment Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) and local matching revenue from the township.
The name for the park was inspired by the Gun Lake Tribe of Potawatomis with the notion the facility will serve seven generations of local youths in the future.
John Caras, former member of the Township Board and Planning Commission told colleagues a master plan has been completed since a public hearing in December. They hope to begin moving dirt in the spring.
In other business at the meeting Thursday night, the board:
- Approved the appointment of Ashley Yearous to a vacant seat on then Planning Commission. Her term will expire Feb. 1, 2027.
- Agreed to have meetings on the first Thursday of the month, in fiscal year 2025-26, except for April, January and July because of conflict with holidays.
- Was told by ordinance enforcement officer Jim Davis that one outstanding ordinance violation case has been cleared, but nine remain.
- Learned that the township’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) small amount of funds have been cleared and moved to the general fund.
- Approved the purchase of a new printer from Applied Technology for Clerk Mary Ann Baker for $750.
- Approved the upgrade for the Windows 11 operating system for five computers and one notebook at a cost of $2,144.
- Approved, at the Feb. 6 meeting, the appointment of Trustee Joseph Yearous as deputy supervisor and John Caras as technology coordinator.
