Olander Park police return to old pay plan

3/21/2001

Sylvania police officers will continue to use golf carts and all-terrain vehicles to patrol Olander Park. Earlier this week, the Olander Park System board members nixed an idea about letting officers use city-issued patrol vehicle at a higher rate of pay.

The three-member board decided to keep the same pay system used last year during the peak months of April to September. That means the off-duty Sylvania officers would get paid $22 an hour and work Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays on “extra duty.”

The board had considered paying the officers about $33 an hour ($42 including benefits) for their patrols during on an “overtime plan.” The officers would have used the city's patrol vehicles and other police equipment. The park system would have reimbursed the city for the overtime.

At the higher rate of pay, Sylvania police could not guarantee any more shift coverage than the original plan, park director Gary Madrzykowski said this week.

“The plan worked out fabulous last year,” he said. “They will continue to patrol the park with the Lucas County Sheriff auxillary deputies.”

The patrols will start in late April.

The plan will cost estimated $13,000 to patrol the Sylvania Avenue 60-acre park, 28 of which is Lake Olander. The second plan would have cost an estimated $25,000.

In other business, the board:

Learned that the Medusa Gun Club on Centennial Road will cease operation when its lease expires on April 1.

With the termination, the system will begin to develop Fossil Park. The gun club threatened the development of the park.

“The pellets from the shotgun range could travel as far as the quarry,” Mr. Madrzykowski said.

“I don't think people would want to spend a day at the park with shotgun pellets over their head,” he said.

“Safety first,” he said. “People like to come to the parks for peace, quiet, solitude, tranquility and to get away from it all.”

Fossil Park will occupy about 10 acres south of Centennial Terrace and feature about five acres of a stone rock quarry for fossil hunting. The board approved a contract with the Collaborative Inc. in Toledo work as project managers.

It will compile and master plan and monitor the project for $12,600. Construction bids for the first phase of the project is scheduled to open on May 4.

Were informed about the meeting between Mr. Madrzykowski and school officials about incorporating the Oak Savannah and Fossil Park into the school science curriculum.

Approved a 7 percent raise for Mr. Madrzykowski. He is paid $45,000 annually. The rest of the six-member staff received a 4 percent increase.