Parks commission elects officers

The Laketown Township Parks and Recreation Commission elected officers at its Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024, meeting.

Brand Laninga was elected chairperson of the five-member commission. He was first appointed to the parks commission in June 2023 and became chairperson in December 2023. He was elected in November for a 4-year term.

On Wednesday, Tom Hoekman was elected vice chairperson and Mary Jo Bertolino was elected treasurer.

Hoekman was appointed to the commission in January 2024 and elected in November for a 4-year term.

Bertolino was appointed to the commission in September 2024 and elected in November for a 4-year term.

The vice chairperson fills in when the chairperson is not able to attend meetings or events. The treasurer looks over the expenses and bills.

Other parks commission members are Sherry Sirko and Michael Teekamp.

The commission usually meets at 6 p.m. on the third Wednesday of the month, but due to the holidays, the commission will meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22, at the township hall, 4338 Beeline Road.

In other business, the parks commission:

• Approved spending up to $400 for winter programming at The Felt Estate. A CPR class is Jan. 25, and mushroom identification is Feb. 22 in the third-floor ballroom at the Felt Mansion, 6597 138^th Ave. A presentation on invasive species is March 29 in the Carriage House at the estate.
• Received a report from the Beach Access Task Force on short-term and long-term needs at Laketown Beach including recommendations on stairs and erosion control. The commission will discuss the report at its January meeting. The Parking Task Force led by Hoekman will submit its written report in January as well. The commission set up the groups in March to examine vehicle traffic, parking and ecology at the beach, 6710 142^nd Ave., as well as the stairs and beach access.