Trail Creek approves playground down payment and advances first reading to shift park and sanitary funds

Trail Creek’s Town Council on Feb. 17 authorized a $31,000 down payment to a playground vendor and advanced the first reading of an ordinance to reallocate park proceeds and address unpaid sanitary‑district invoices.

During the park report, a council member said the park board requested $11,102.12 to bridge a shortfall and explained that staff planned to use existing line items and upcoming fundraisers to make up remaining costs. The council then approved a motion to issue a $31,000 down payment to Kid(s) Stuff (playground vendor) toward a total equipment cost cited in the packet as $62,000. A council member noted the vendor meeting was scheduled for Feb. 20, when a down payment would be issued.

Separately, staff introduced a three‑part ordinance (first reading) that would: move $8,700 of recent park receipts into a park nonreverting fund; add $53,000 in nonreverting park funds to the 2026 budget; and transfer $40,000 from the refuse fund into the 2026 budget to pay several accumulated sanitary‑district invoices. The ordinance was read and discussed; council members asked staff to correct invoice year labels that appear to reference services from 2022. The town’s attorney described legal options for negotiating with Michigan City, which had sent notices about unpaid invoices, and advised the council that the town could seek payment plans or other remedies but also had a practical interest in resolving arrears to clear the accounts.

Council members emphasized the park board’s planned fundraising (give‑back nights at local restaurants and a spring fall‑festival fundraiser) and said the transfers could be adjusted later if actual fundraising proceeds differ from projections. The ordinance passed first reading by motion; a second reading and final adoption will be scheduled per publication and statutory notice requirements.

The council’s action on the playground and the ordinance are procedural steps: the down payment was approved for immediate issuance, while the ordinance will return for final consideration. Staff said the playground equipment is expected in about six to eight weeks if schedules and payments proceed as planned.