GLADSTONE — The John and Melissa Besse Sports Park in Gladstone will be welcoming a new cycling pump track after the City Commission granted a motion in favor of the Delta County Non-Motorized Trails Organization’s project Monday night.

This cycle pump track, which was originally approved by the Parks and Recreation Board at its June 8 meeting, will be constructed largely in part by Bob Bosk and Mike VerHamme, two members of the Delta County Non-Motorized Trails Organization. The track, which is set to be positioned behind Cannon Field, will utilize crushed limestone and the dirt and soil from clearing the track site in its assembly.

“[The pump track] has been in our master plan for quite some time … it is more for just getting kids and people up there to learn how to do it.” Jason Davis, Parks and Recreation Director for the City of Gladstone, said. “The concept is there and the want is there as well.”

A cycle pump track is designed to be ridden without pedaling, utilizing momentum from undulations in the track to propel a bicycle forward. With the main purpose of promoting health and fitness, along with helping cyclists master the skill of pumping, the Commission fully supported the organization’s plans.

“If it were to peter out after 10 years, it is not a permanent structure, so we could flatten it out,” Davis said.

The track is projected to be 200-feet by 200-feet, allowing cyclists of all skill-levels to ride in a safe environment. The Delta County Non-Motorized Trails Organization dedicated $5,500 towards the pump track’s construction, and will continue fundraising efforts to match that initial dollar amount and finish the project. The organization has also agreed to maintain and rebuild the pump track when need be.

“The track itself is made for five-year-olds and up, all the way to grown-ups,” VerHamme said. “This is our first go around. We have never built a pump track before, but we built the single-track trails at Days River.”

In other new business, the commission approved the Disc Da U.P. Event, a disc golf tournament that will be held on Saturday, Aug. 20 and 21 at the North Bluff Disc Golf Course. Disc Da U.P. is part of the Michigan Women’s Disc Golf series and does not require the disc golf course to be closed to the public over its two-day span.

“Our disc course … has been gaining some attention now that it was rated #2 in the state,” Eric Buckman, Gladstone city manager, said. “Hopefully we’ll be seeing some more tournaments up there.”

The commission also authorized City Clerk Kim Berry to appoint election inspectors as needed for the upcoming primary election being held on Aug. 2. These election inspectors will be positioned in Precinct 1, Gladstone City Hall, and Precinct 2, the Gladstone Sports Park, along with constituting the absent voter counting boards and receiving board. Berry requested five election inspectors for both Precinct 1 and 2, the minimum amount according to Michigan law is three inspectors. The payroll for these appointed election inspectors is already accounted for in the city’s budget.

Those interested in being an election inspector for the upcoming primary and general elections can fill out an application at www.michigan.gov or contact Berry for more information. The position requires training that has to be renewed every two years, but once inspectors are trained they can serve in any jurisdiction in the state of Michigan. It is required that all inspectors declare their political party affiliation on their application. This step, according to Berry, is an election law that ensures non-bias when voters request assistance at the ballot box.

“If there is somebody that comes in and needs help on their ballot, we have to have two election workers help them of differing parties,” Berry said. “If somebody needs their ballot read to them or help marking their ballot, so you have that check and balance.”