STURGIS – The Sturgis City Council will consider the approval of design services for Sturgis Adventure Park as well as hear from the Sturgis City Attorney on a resolution to possibly extend the Office of City Manager Subcommittee.

The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. today, Monday Feb. 6, in the council chambers at Sturgis City Hall, 1040 Harley-Davidson Way, Sturgis. 

Following the approval of a TIF for Vanocker Development, INC. by the city council last fall, the city issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for design and construction administrative services. The firms that completed the feasibility study for the Adventure Park - CRS Design and Tallgrass Landscape Architecture - and the private development proposal - Kyle Treloar - joined together to present a proposal for the adventure park design. 

Sturgis City Manager Daniel Ainslie said the team concept will provide a combination of familiarity with the site and the adjoining private development with the operational expertise for adventure parks. 

“The response was reviewed by several pertinent city staff members and city council members. The reviews were positive with the added comment to ensure that the designers include significant cooperation with qualified/experienced trail builders,” Ainslie said. 

Should the council approve the agreement at Monday’s city council meeting, the design for the park will begin. 

The design will combine the suggestions received from the public during past information gathering exercises and also from future meetings. 

Ainslie said after the preliminary design is completed, an operational plan for the project will be developed. This operational plan will ultimately include what features would be available year-round at no cost and which amenities would have a reasonable fee in order to ensure that the operation of the park pays for itself. 

Also at the meeting Monday, Sturgis City Attorney Mark Marshall will discuss a possible resolution to extend the Office of City Manager Subcommittee.

Marshall said that although the subcommittee has made significant progress, the subcommittee’s work is not complete.

The resolution calls for the reappointment of Mike Bachand, Mark Carstensen, Aaron Jordan, and Dean Sigman to the subcommittee, which would be extended until Feb. 14, 2024, or the date on which the subcommittee is disbanded, whichever occurs first.

The subcommittee was established in January of 2022 when the council passed a resolution in support of the office of city manager. The move came after three Sturgis residents Justin Bohn, Tammy Bohn and Brenda Vasknetz circulated petitions to change how Sturgis operates from the current aldermanic with a city manager to an aldermanic without a city manager.

You can find the agenda at: City of Sturgis - Meeting Information (civicweb.net)