The Suttons Bay Township Board took steps last week to establish a formal relationship with the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation to help manage funds that will be used for the township's Herman Park project and other parks and recreation efforts.

At its regular monthly meeting last week, the board heard from community foundation representative Jeanne Snow, who explained how the foundation can assist the township.

In setting up a “Suttons Bay Regional Parks and Recreation Fund,” the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation can accept private donations for the Herman Park project and other related projects as well invest the money and disburse it as required.

A year ago, the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund announced that the township is slated to receive some $394,200 to help acquire about 120 acres of land along County Road 633 at Herman Road across from Suttons Bay Public Schools for use as a township park. The total project cost is expected to be around $600,000, with the township needing to raise funds to match the state grant and other grants it may receive.

Last month, members of the townships Parks and Recreation Committee met with community members and a consultant who will assist in developing a “capital campaign” to raise funds for the park project.

Although much of the cost of land acquisition will come from the state grant, additional expenses are anticipated in developing the park into an “active recreation” facility including athletic fields, tennis courts and other amenities. The only obstacle remaining to purchasing the property from the family of the late Ralph Herman is the political bureaucracy in Lansing, according to township officials.

At its Dec. 12 meeting, the township board voted 5-0 to authorize supervisor Rich Bahle to sign an agreement with the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation.

In other business at last week’s meeting, the Suttons Bay Township Board:

• Endorsed an application for some $42,000 in “2-percent” casino revenue funding from the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians on behalf of the Suttons Bay Boxing Club. The board heard from boxing club coach Mike Hernandez who said the club would use the money to find a permanent facility, having moved several times since it was established about four years ago.

• Endorsed a request from developer David Bahle to seek an extension of the Village of Suttons Bay sewer system beyond village limits into Bahle’s “Thorntree Commons” development on Broadway Street.

• Agreed by consensus to direct township zoning administrator Steve Patmore and staff planner Rochelle Rollenhagen to review and update a fee schedule for zoning, planning and other township services which the board will consider for adoption at an upcoming meeting.

• Voted 5-0 to reappoint Doug Periard to a three-year term on the township Planning Commission.

• Voted 5-0 to reappoint Chris Branson to a three-year term on the Zoning Board of Appeals.

• Voted 5-0 to reappoint Deb Slocombe and Tom Nixon to three three-terms on the Parks and Recreation Committee.

• Voted 5-0 to appoint Nixon to serve the one year remaining on newly-appointed township trustee Bill Drozdalski’s term on the township Board of Review.

• Learned that vacancies remain for an alternate member of the Board of Review and at least one seat on the Planning Commission.

• Set meeting dates for 2008. Regular Suttons Bay Township Board meetings will be held the second Wednesday of each month at 5:15 p.m.