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October 13, 2005
Committee says close Clinch zooWants a private facility opened elsewhereByRecord-Eagle staff writer TRAVERSE CITY - A committee suggested the city close its Clinch Park Zoo to the public by Labor Day 2007, and find a private group to open a new facility. On Thursday, the Clinch Park Zoo Review Committee approved a resolution that asks the city to solicit proposals for the construction and operation of a new, privately funded zoo or wildlife center. "(I) hope the city commission considers this recommendation seriously," said committee chairman Ralph Cerny. The final committee vote was 7-5. But members who objected to the recommendation said they did so mostly because they wanted more time to study the final wording, not because they opposed the direction. The recommendation asks for the city to help pay consultant costs to study the feasibility of a new facility, fundraising and site options. It also asks the city to negotiate with the group a "gradually decreasing transitional subsidy" for the operation of a new facility "for a period of time." At Thursday's meeting, the group tweaked a draft recommendation it first considered last month. The first version called for a July 1, 2007, closure date. It also specified a three-year period to subsidize the new facility. Other wording that was added opposes the euthanization of animals and asks the city to work harder to find an "alternative placement" for animals if there is no viable group planning a new facility by the end of next summer. Cerny read the revised recommendation before the vote, but several board members wanted to review the changes and vote at the next meeting. "I don't see the mad rush," said Margaret Dodd. Others said the board understood and approved the changes and was prepared to vote on the recommendation. "The essential message is still the same: I think we are just delaying, delaying and delaying...," said committee member Ross Biederman. Board member Kathy Douglass said after the meeting she thought the committee could have reached a unanimous vote if it had one more meeting. It's a "shame" the committee can't present a unanimous vote to the city commission, Cerny said. He said the board's split verdict ended the committee's work on "a bit of a sour note." But, Cerny said, another meeting wouldn't have changed the outcome. Now, this political hot potato will be served up to the city commission. The commission will consider the recommendation for the first time at its Nov. 7 meeting - the day before the city's general election.
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Record-Eagle/Tyler Sipe
