Pine River Library Director Shelley Walchak is seeking Town of Bayfield help to get funding for a kids' outside activity area.
Town Manager Chris La May told town trustees on July 7, "They have a situation of students using the library, causing some issues. They'd like to use their vacant land for a place for kids to burn off energy. They'd like to apply for a GoCo (state lottery funds) grant. They aren't eligible to apply, but we are."
Walchak said one of the biggest issues is large groups of middle schoolers coming in after school. "We started feeding them a small snack, added programming to avoid some of the discipline problems," she said. "I've talked to the Bayfield Marshal's Office. They are at the library numerous times each week overseeing things."
She talked to La May and Parks and Rec Director Scott Key about partnering to build a park on the library land.
The library board of directors would have to approve turning the land over to the town, and the value of that could be used as part of the 30 percent local match for the grant, Walchak said.
She was seeking town board feedback on the proposal.
Mayor Rick Smith commented, "Education is the key to the viability of a community. It's not done just at the school. If you have idle children, things can happen. If you keep them in a learning cycle, things tend to dissipate."
He and La May noted that if the town applies for a GoCo grant on the library's behalf, the town won't be able to apply during that grant cycle for its own grant.
La May added, "We have this pending street funding issue," referring to a third effort this November to get voter approval for a town sales tax increase to pay for ongoing street maintenance and related items. "If the sales tax doesn't pass, there will be decisions, such as cutting staff, so taking on more maintenance is an issue, but it could be worth it."
In his written memo to trustees, La May referred to "a playground that could include active recreational opportunities (i.e. outdoor basketball court or volleyball court)."
Walchak said the library won't be able to take on maintenance of the proposed park.
"We could wait (on applying for the grant), but they are going to yearly grant cycles instead of semi-annual," Walchak said. "Maybe over the next month we can see if this is actually feasible before we do a resolution. I'm willing to write the grant," she said.
In his written memo, La May said, "Staff would support sitting out GOCO grant for one cycle, but not necessarily two cycles if the grant is not successful in initial submittal."
Trustees were OK with proceeding on the proposal.
