With 100% of the funds matched as well as reimbursement from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, no county funding will be needed for this project upon receiving grant funds from EGLE.

The county approved transferring $162,597.12 from the Delta County Parks fund balance to purchase the playground equipment for OB Fuller Park, 850 M-35. The amount has been 100% matched through a grant awarded to them by Sinclair Recreation, which is selling and installing the equipment.

The county will then be reimbursed $183,375 through a separate EGLE grant, the Renewables Ready Communities Award. The grant is also being used to fund other projects throughout the county, such as water equipment for Pioneer Trail Park.

The county’s maintenance department will prepare the area for installation, and Sinclair Recreation will install the equipment next spring.

The Delta County Board met Tuesday evening. (Courtesy photo)

County Administrator Emily DeSalvo noted the county’s healthy fund balance that can cover purchasing the equipment before receiving any grant money.

“With that information, I felt confident in moving forward with presenting this to finance to say ‘Right now, we don’t have those grant funds, However, if we don’t move forward now — purchasing the equipment – we will lose the match funding,” DeSalvo said.

While the playground won’t have any equipment considered fully compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act, some of the equipment is considered accessible to children with disabilities.

The board also agreed to dedicate the park equipment to Steve Wery, who for many years advocated for playground equipment, according to Commissioner Christine Williams.

Delta County Parks Manager Heather LeDuc will update the Delta County Parks and Recreation Commission at its next meeting.

The Delta County Board on Tuesday approved funding that will be matched and reimbursed through grants for playground equipment to be installed at OB Fuller Park next spring. There are multiple playgrounds and various pieces planned with the project. (Courtesy photo)

In other news, the council:

— Heard about possible relocation plans for Delta County Central Dispatch. DeSalvo said Michigan Works is in favor of having Michigan State University-Extension, now at 840 College Ave., share Central Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Regional Commission’s site at 2950 College Ave. Central Dispatch could then move into the MSU-Extension’s current location. Further details on the move and the budget are to be discussed.

— Approved changing the salary range for a full-time Veteran Services Officer in the county to $43,000-$53,000, compared with the current $43,000 to $48,000. This allows those who apply for the open Veteran Services Officer position to be hired at a lower end of the salary range if they don’t have much experience. New hires can also grow within the role to earn a higher salary in this larger range. Delta County Veterans Service Officer Dave Dziewior initially recommended the change, DeSalvo said.

— Authorized hiring a new Delta County Sheriff’s road patrol officer early, as a detective, Mark Hanson, plans to retire in February. Someone within the department would be promoted to his position, which would open a road patrol spot. However, there will be an overlap between when Hanson would still be working for the department and when the new patrol officer would need to start the police academy. The 17-week academy is paid for through grants, so both positions can be funded.