Swanton Village seeks aid to spruce up parks

5/1/2005

SWANTON - Residents in the village of Swanton will vote Tuesday on whether to approve a 0.5-mill, five-year replacement levy to provide funds for permanent improvements to their community parks.

The levy would replace a 0.5-mill levy that was passed in November, 2000. The park levy now brings in just under $28,000 annually, and the replacement levy would generate about $31,000 a year, said Jon Gochenour, village administrator.

Goals of the village's park and recreation board to improve the park system include the purchase of land and development of a park in the town's northern section. A park in that area is much needed, said board chairman Joe Kahl.

Other possible projects include a performance pavilion in the western portion of Memorial Park, and the addition of steps and walks in that area.

Costs for the proposed projects greatly exceed the additional dollars that would be received from the replacement levy, but "the good faith of voters is necessary to gain money from grants and other sources which we will actively pursue," he stated.

Homeowners would see a slight increase in their taxes if the levy is approved, he said. It would cost an additional $1.16 per year for a resident with a $100,000 owner-occupied home. That same homeowner pays $8.71 now, and would pay $9.87 a year for the replacement levy.

Swanton's current parks are Memorial Park, Pilliod Park, and Rotary Park.

Only residents in the village will vote on the levy. The village is mostly located in Fulton County, but a small portion overlaps into Lucas County.