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April 19, 2021 By Jessica Mathews / news@whmi.com Changes regarding operations and maintenance of the City of Howellâs Scofield Park and boat launch facilities are nearly finalized for the coming season. City Council has been discussing planned changes to the Cityâs agreement with the Howell Area Parks and Recreation Authority (HAPRA), which manages the beach and boat launch. Due to the Cityâs challenging financial situation, it was determined there needed to be more financial sharing of the facilities by those outside of the Authorityâs boundaries, as well as changes regarding the issuance of park permits. The new terms of the agreement call for one free season pass for all Authority households - which includes the City, Howell Township, Genoa Township, Marion Township, and Oceola Township. One additional pass for each Authority household can be purchased for $40. The cost for one season pass for all non-Authority households is $60 - with the option to purchase one additional pass for the same amount.
March 11, 2021 By Jessica Mathews / news@whmi.com Discussions about managing the park and boat launch will be taking place between the City of Howell and the Howell Area Parks & Recreation Authority over the next couple of weeks. The City contracts with the Authority to run Scofield Park and the Thompson Lake boat launch for around $45,000. The Authority is responsible for manning the guard booth and handles pavilion rentals, which goes on year-round. It also manages the distribution of annual park passes for City residents and other participating municipalities that include Marion, Howell, Oceola, and Genoa Townships. The City is facing significant budget challenges and has been looking at different ways to save money. Following earlier budget work sessions, Council gave City Manager Paul DeBuff direction to look into having the City take over management duties in-house for a rough savings of around $25,000. It costs the City around $160,000 for maintenance of assets such as the beach, boat launch, pavilions mowing, and the park in general.