GREENWOOD TWP— Planning and fundraising for a set of dedicated pickleball courts at Greenwood Town Hall will move forward as a result of town board action on Dec. 12. The board approved siting the three new courts adjacent to the pavilion and bocce ball courts, in a 100’ by 100’ area that won’t require much site preparation.
But the decision was not without some disagreement, specifically over township funding for the project, and whether or not the board should wait until the annual meeting in March to allow any fundraising on the project to begin.
The Greenwood Pickleball Committee met on Nov. 16, and agreed on a plan to build three courts, with no changes needed for the parking lot or helipad area. The newly-formed Lake Vermilion Pickleball Association (LVPA) will work with the Greenwood Recreation Board, and the township. The recreation board, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, would act as the fiduciary on the project.
The pickleball committee agreed on a funding approach which included soliciting donations and grant dollars, as well as asking the township for matching funds.
Ballpark estimates for construction of three courts is $75,000. The IRRR has a grant program that would provide up to $30,000 in one-to-one matching funds.
While the pickleball association had not formally requested any township funding, the idea was floated during the committee meeting, and the committee decided to request a donation, and amounts were discussed.
Committee member Lee Peterson, who was the lone vote against the idea of a three-court complex (wanting only two courts) said the committee was expecting the township pay 50-percent of the cost. But LVPA leader Paul Thompson said that idea was only floated as part of a discussion.
“It shouldn’t be taken negatively,” Thompson said. “Chairman John Bassing asked for a number, we went with 50-percent, it was a discussion.” Minutes from that meeting show the group asking for a contribution of between one-third and one-half the court cost. The LVPA has said they are willing to raise the funds on their own, without a township contribution.
Bassing noted that a $25,000 contribution from the township would cost about $16 per person.
About 30 people attended the township meeting, and most were pickleball enthusiasts.
In general, the board was in favor of the courts.
“Waiting until March [to make a decision] is wrong,” said Supervisor Paul Skubic. “They can raise more than we think, there is a lot of support.”
Supervisor Barb Lofquist, who initially seconded a motion by Supervisor Rick Stoehr to table any action until after the annual meeting, withdrew her second, and expressed her support for the project. She noted that the township had not made any promises to financially support the project and that the courts would belong to all township property owners, not just year-round residents, who are allowed to vote at the annual meeting.
Supervisor Sue Drobac then seconded the motion and discussion continued.
“I had no intention of bursting anyone’s bubble,” said Stoehr, who said he was happy to see the helipad landing area would not be disrupted by the location of the courts.
Thompson said the committee has already raised $1,000, and they were waiting for township approval before sending out requests for donations to the LVPA members, and was also planning a township-wide mailing and funding requests to businesses. He added that the group has never “made a demand or expectation for township funding.”
The application for the IRRR grant is due in January, and the grant window is only available once a year. The committee would like to get the funding in place so construction could begin this summer, possibly in conjunction with a planned resurfacing of the town hall parking lot, which would reduce blacktop costs since the equipment would already be in place.
The motion to table any action on the pickleball courts until after the annual meeting failed on a 3-2 vote, with Stoehr and Sue Drobac voting in favor, and Bassing, Skubic, and Barb Lofquist voting against. A subsequent vote to allow the courts to be built, with no commitment at this time on any funding, passed 5-0.
The decision came after a lengthy and somewhat heated discussion on whether or not the town board should approve adding recreational facilities at the town hall. A survey done in 2015, as part of the township’s comprehensive plan, did not show support for adding recreational facilities, with 26-percent indicating they were in support, 41-percent opposed, and 33-percent with no opinion.
Since then, the town board did support the construction of a privately-funded pavilion and playground.
“When we asked permission to build the pavilion,” said Jarri Ankrum, one of the project organizers, “there was just as much negative support as positive support.”
The pavilion project has been quite a success, she noted and is widely used for private events, family gatherings, and simply a place to hang out, especially when the weather is not amenable to being out on the lake, she said.
“It’s amazing,” she said, “and it’s positive for Greenwood as a whole.”
Ankrum said the project did not need support at the annual meeting to proceed.
The pavilion will get even more use with adjacent pickleball courts, as players will have a shaded place to wait for their turns on the courts. LVPA started counting the numbers using the tennis court for pickleball in August and showed an average of 17 players per day and two hours of play per person.
“Waiting times were an issue,” said Thompson, “some days there were 20 people waiting for their turn.”
Once the pickleball courts are built, the tennis courts would be mostly reserved for tennis players, resolving the conflicts that sometimes arose this past summer. If the LVPA sponsored any tournaments, the tennis court would be available for two additional pickleball courts (pickleball is played on a court half the size of a tennis court).
Peterson also said he was not in favor of tournaments at the town hall.
“I don’t want 400 people here,” he said.
Other business
In other business, the board:
• Will have Drobac contact the township attorney about the issue of assessing costs for the Twp. 4136 upgrades.
• Heard that two new trained firefighters have joined the department, contingent on background checks. Both are also trained EMRs.
• Heard that Bassing and Lee Peterson met with the firm doing the Ely-Bloomenson Hospital sponsored study on area ambulance issues.
• Election filings open on Jan. 2. Seats held by Lofquist, Drobac, and Clerk JoAnn Bassing will be on the ballot at the March 12 township election.
• Passed a resolution to appoint election judges.
• Heard from Lofquist that while arsenic levels are much lower than before the filtration system was put in, they are still a bit higher than EPA standards. Stoehr wondered if the township should put up a sign noting the results. Lofquist said the state said the water was safe to drink and they didn’t need to post a sign.
 Passed a motion to raise firefighter and EMR pay to $25 per hour, from $20.
 Will donate $100 to Care Partners and the Vermilion Lake Association.