A manpower shortage in the Oxford Township Parks and Recreation Department means it won’t be able to clear snow from the community’s safety paths as originally agreed.
After five years of faithful service, Park Superintendent Ed West resignedhis position effective immediately Wednesday, Dec. 9, according to Parks and Rec. Director Ron Davis. West gave no reason for his decison.
West’s sudden and unexpected resignation leaves the department with only two maintenance workers, meaning it no longer has adequate manpower to do snow removal on four township safety paths leading to local schools, Davis said.
The township board voted unanimously Dec. 8 to award the job to parks and rec. and contribute $10,000 toward the department’s purchase of a Bobcat skid-steer to clear the snow.
The township’s action was prompted by parent concerns over unsafe conditions encountered by children using the safety paths to walk to school during the winter months. Safety paths to cleared included sections on W. Drahner, Lakeville and N. Oxford roads and Pontiac St.
In light of the park and rec. department’s sudden inability to do the work, Treasurer Joe Ferrari said the issue will have to be brought back to the board and officials must decide if they wish to award the job to the only other bidder ? Nothern Pines Lawn and Landscaping.
The Ortonville-based company quoted the township a price of $565 per push, meaning it would charge $565 every time its workers came out to clear the four paths.
This bid is significantly higher than the parks and rec. bid of $58 per hour, which worked out to an estimated $174 per push. However, instead of charging the township that amount, Davis had asked officials to contribute $10,000 toward his department’s purchase of a $39,000 Bobcat skid-steer, which would have been used for clearing safety paths and a variety of other jobs.
Each time snow removal was needed, parks and rec. would have deducted the per push cost from the $10,000 until the township’s contribution was completely reimbursed.
In a Dec. 14 letter to Supervisor Dunn, Davis wrote that the Parks and Recreation Commission Monday night agreed to not purchase the Bobcat ‘based on staff shortages as well as the lack of additional resources.?
When asked if the board could decide to solicit snow removal bids again, Ferrari said the township originally advertised for two or three weeks and only received one other bid besides the quote from parks and rec.
Davis called West’s resignation a ‘major setback? for the department.
‘He was a jack-of-all-trades,? he said. ‘He was an integral part of this team, the community.?
When he announced West’s resignation to the Parks and Rec. Commission Monday night, Davis said officials were ‘devastated.? He said his own staff was ‘dumbfounded? by the news.
‘This is a major loss for our department, our township and our community,? Davis wrote in a Dec. 14 letter to Supervisor Bill Dunn.
Davis said the only ‘good thing? about West’s resignation is the timing.
‘Winter is our slow time,? he said.
The position of park superintendent probably won’t be filled until the spring, Davis noted.
In West’s absense, Davis will be administering all maintenance issues as they relate to the department.
Although parks and rec. won’t be able to do the snow removal this year, the director said ‘maybe next year.?
‘I would hope that the idea could be revisited next winter,? he wrote to Dunn.