Upper Lake losing 62,000 gallons of water a day

by Sue Serdinak

Sept. 14 Richfield Joint Recreation District meeting

John Piepsny, director of the Richfield Heritage Preserve for the RJRD, reported that the Upper Lake had a leak and was losing about 62,000 gallons of water a day. The level had dropped about 10 feet over a weekend.

Piepsny said he contacted the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, which recommended hiring scuba divers to check the condition of the drainpipe and the dam. They determined that there was no break in the dam. However, the drainpipe, which had been installed when the Girl Scouts owned the park, had deteriorated. They recommended installing a bladder inside the pipe.

The scuba diving team charged $10,250. Piepsny asked for retroactive authorization to pay the expense. The board approved the expenditure for the scuba divers.

“The scuba divers said the pipe is in bad shape. We need to choose an engineer and make repairs. … I’m assuming the board wants to keep the lake and the dam. We will have to work with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. They must approve everything,” Piepsny said.

He advised the board that it might need to consider additional extensive repairs to the lake if members are determined to keep it. ODNR has a loan program for dam problems.

At the end of the meeting during public comments, Jeff DeLuca, who served on the board for several years and managed the infrastructure and maintenance of the park, said he could offer insight into dam problems. He recommended performing a dye test to determine the location of the leak.

Treasurer’s report

In the absence of Dave Wehner, there was no treasurer’s report.

Volunteer agreement

Board Vice Chair Mike Lyons ran the meeting in the absence of Anita Gantner. Lyons also gave a report for the governance committee, which recommended an updated standard work agreement between the park and volunteers.

Lyons said the updated document simplified the agreement by eliminating the insurance requirement associated with tools used by volunteers.

“[The previous policy] was an obstacle to a group doing more work in the park,” he said.

The purpose of the updated agreement is to provide some flexibility and remove some unreasonable restraints, Lyons said.

The board unanimously approved the agreement.

During public comments at the end of the meeting, Corey Ringle, president of the Friends of Richfield Heritage Preserve, explained that the Friends had been asked to remove fallen trees and repair the perimeter fence but had been hampered by the director’s requirements for volunteers.

“One [of our volunteers] has chain saw certification and worked in the national park for several years, but he was denied permission to use a chain saw in the park. We wanted to use a brush hog, but that was denied,” she said.

She added that the Friends are required to ask a park staff employee to drive the park’s tractor rather than allow a volunteer to use it.

She said it was like being asked to mop a floor with a toothbrush.

“I don’t want you to think we aren’t doing the work,” she said.

Board member Cindy Moore asked if all of the work done by Oviatt House volunteers must meet the same requirements.

Lyons said the Oviatt House organization has a lease with the park. He said he didn’t know what arrangements it currently has with the park director.

Classification of structures

Board member Holly Price asked the board to discuss its review of the shelters and other structures in the park.

The Nature Hut is on a hill above the Kirby House, and the foundation is in bad shape. Piepsny said that if the structure were removed, there would be an open view of the lower lake.

Price said the board has learned that if members are patient, there might be another use for the building. “I would be satisfied to keep it,” she said.

The shelters are not structurally hazardous, Lyons said. “I wouldn’t be comfortable removing them at this time,” he said.

“I think it is better to keep a building unless there is a good reason to remove it,” said Mark Robeson.

At the end of the meeting, Lynn Richardson, representing the Friends, said the organization had applied a few years ago to “champion” some of the buildings for restoration and had presented substantial details about each structure.

Price said the board had moved away from that program.

Robeson said he would like to review that information.

Betty Vandermeer, who volunteers with the outhouse cleanup crew, said it is clear that people are using the shelters.

Chris Nazer, a member of the Friends, thanked the board for agreeing to save the buildings.

Garfield Hall

Ringle reported that she completed the architectural drawings needed to apply for an occupancy permit for Garfield Hall.

The Friends restored the building in 2025. The park board has talked about renting the building for use by small groups.

Kirby Mill bridge

The engineering firm GFT Infrastructure sent a proposal to provide an initial structural and safety assessment and preliminary planning for a potential in-kind replacement bridge of the Kirby Mill suspension bridge. The contract said the company recognizes that “future improvements must balance public safety, regulatory compliance, constructability, cost, and historic preservation considerations.”

The proposal specified that the contract would identify RJRD as the owner and the Friends as the funder. The cost of the study would be $10,000.

Price said she wanted the contract to stipulate which member of the Friends would be listed as the organization’s representative. In addition, she wanted it stipulated that concrete could not be listed as a proposed material for a replacement bridge.

The board did not approve signing the contract for the Kirby Mill bridge.

Kirby Day

Ringle reported that Kirby Day was held, even though it rained, much as it has during the goat derbies held in the park. Visitors enjoyed the planned activities. However, the park director required the Friends to close the event after a half-hour.