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Metro Parks Board commissioner resigns
By Chris Fitzgerald
KP News
Key Peninsula Metro Park District Board Commissioner and
Vice President Jerry Schick, whose term was due to
expire at the end of 2009, resigned “effective
immediately” on Aug. 6, according to his letter received
at the KPMPD post office box in time for presentation at
the regular meeting of Aug. 15. Parks Director Scott
Gallacher indicated to the Key Peninsula News the
resignation came as a surprise with no forewarning.
Schick’s
letter was addressed both to the commissioners and
“fellow citizens,” and expressed frustration. He wrote,
“I do not believe what I and others envisioned for our
park district can or will be achieved.” He referenced an
“absence or disregard of fundamental and proper
practices, policies, and procedures,” and consistent
enforcement of the same. Schick did not respond to a
request by KP News for clarification of the allegations.
The AKC agility
trials held recently at Volunteer Park brought
canine visitors and their friends from as far as
Oregon, Idaho
& Canada
Photo courtesy Scott Gallacher |
The letter
stated, “(Lack of) funding… significantly restricts our
park district from achieving… requisite goals and
objectives (and) the ability to properly and effectively
maintain or improve existing park assets.”
KPMPD
President Paula DeMoss was not present at the meeting,
with an excused absence; Secretary Kip Clinton, acting
as president, and Commissioners Caril Ridley and Ross
Bishoff briefly discussed the letter and concluded they
had no option but to accept it.
Bishoff
said, “We are regretful to accept the resignation.”
Ridley noted, “We don’t always know the reasons a
person’s life (takes the direction it does).”
Gallacher
issued a statement to the KP News on behalf of the
board: “The Key Peninsula Metro Park District would like
to thank Commissioner Schick for his commitment to the
community and park district.
The AKC agility
trials held recently at Volunteer Park brought
canine visitors and their friends from as far as
Oregon, Idaho
& Canada
Photo courtesy Scott Gallacher |
“Commissioner Schick was very involved and instrumental
in many day to day operations of the district early on
and was an advocate for policy development. We thank him
for all of his efforts and wish him the best.”
To fill
the vacancy, guidelines set forth in RCW 42.12 will be
followed, allowing the board to appoint someone until
the next general election in November 2007. At that
time, the appointee would have to run for election to
complete the remaining two years of the unexpired term.
No special election is needed; no major impact upon the
budget will occur.
Other
KPMPD developments
Commissioners approved a 3 percent cost-of-living salary
increase for Gallacher, retroactive to his anniversary
date of March 1, a provision made in the district’s 2006
budget.
The AKC agility
trials held recently at Volunteer Park brought
canine visitors and their friends from as far as
Oregon, Idaho
& Canada
Photo courtesy Scott Gallacher |
Gallacher
resubmitted the landscape plan and site map for Home
Park to the county in July. He indicated the next
requirement is to install stream buffer boundary signs
and file documents with the auditor’s office.
In late
September, the board expects to begin holding a series
of public meetings to rewrite a comprehensive parks
plan, and stresses that public input is needed. Clinton
said, “It’s not just about facilities, this is
program-based as well.” Grant Griffin of Pierce County
Parks has offered to review the completed plan before it
is submitted for funding requests.
In the
first of what the Gig Harbor Kennel Club hopes will be
additional AKC Agility Trials held at Volunteer Park,
Gallacher reported “a profitable weekend for the park.”
On the grounds from Aug. 4 through 7, about 300 agility
handlers, their friends, families and onlookers from the
local area, Oregon, Idaho and Canada generated $1,000 in
park revenues.
Gig Harbor
AKC chapter representative Sue Henley said everyone “was
thrilled with the facility at Volunteer Park.”
“We were
just elated — there was plenty of room to park, place
shade tents for the dogs,” she said. “The campground was
nice, lovely walking trails — and bathrooms! We
certainly hope to return next year.”
The AKC agility
trials held recently at Volunteer Park brought
canine visitors and their friends from as far as
Oregon, Idaho
& Canada
Photo courtesy Scott Gallacher |
Previous
to “discovering” the Key Peninsula, this AKC event had
been held at various area school playfields, and had
challenges finding suitable locations.
At those
other venues, the club brought in portable bathrooms,
had none of the amenities available at Volunteer Park,
nor a new service that was arranged this year by Larry
Richardson, a club member and employee at the Purdy
Women’s Correction Center. At the beginning and end of
the event, an eight- or nine-person “community crew,”
comprised of inmates from the prison and overseen by an
officer from the facility, assisted with setup and
tear-down. Henley said it was a wonderful experience,
and everyone appreciated the service.
Henley
praised Gallacher, who was officially on vacation that
week but maintained a cordial, helpful presence. The AKC
regulates the date the Gig Harbor club can run their
event, and Henley has put in their request for the same
weekend next year. The only conflict may be with the KP
Community Fair, if it changes dates again. Gallacher
said he should know by Thanksgiving if the park can
commit to the club’s agility event in 2007.
©Copyright 2005-2008, Key Peninsula
News, all rights reserved.
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