COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Branch County Commissioners formally approved a resolution on Friday that would allow the county to apply for a state natural resources grant to help fund the purchase of a 25 acre campground on Randall Lake.
The application is supported by the county’s five year Parks and Recreation plan. The Branch County Park Trustees recommended the Commissioners authorize the county to submit the application.
The $403,000 grant would cover three quarters of the projects cost. The county share would be about $142,000.
If everything goes as planned, the county would buy the existing 25 acre private campground off of Union City Road. The property includes 65 campsites. Plans call for the county to take over the campground and continue operating it with the existing facilities. The property would also be fixed up by the county.
Also on Friday, Branch County Commissioners gave the go ahead for the county to obtain price quotes for the replacement of an aging Animal Control truck and dog box.
County Administrator Bud Norman said the animal control current vehicle has over 200,000 miles on it.
One estimate by a local car dealership found that repairs would cost about $4,400 which included over $2,700 for labor.