The Michigan City Parks and Recreation Board approved the MC Shines neighborhood cleanup trailer agreement on Aug. 6, authorizing the parks department to manage reservations and checkouts for a city-owned trailer stocked with tools and safety gear for community cleanups.
Staff said the trailer — purchased with city funds and fully outfitted with buckets, rakes, shovels, gloves, litter pickers, barrels, vests and cones — will be checked out through the parks department for day projects. ‘‘Because it's the city's trailer, not parks, the city attorney drafted the agreement. It's just the checkouts will go through the park department because we have the place to house it. And we're set up for reservations and weekly maintenance and schedule,’’ Shannon said.
The agreement requires a signed checklist at checkout; the person dropping off the trailer will provide a contact name and phone number that staff will retain for that day. Staff said they envision most rentals for a single day, and they will deliver and retrieve the trailer to a safe drop-off/pick-up location near the cleanup site.
Public commenters urged security measures including a hitch lock and GPS tracking to reduce theft risk; staff said the department will consider those suggestions and that the contract assigns risk and responsibility for hazards to the renting group for the day. Board members discussed safe storage locations and the department’s standard incident-reporting forms.
A motion to approve the MC Shines neighborhood cleanup trailer agreement was made, seconded and approved by voice vote. Staff said they will finalize the checklist and ensure contact information is recorded with each rental.