Saugatuck OKs vending machines at 2 parks

You’ll be able get a 7UP after climbing up and down the stairs at Mount Baldhead and a Deja Blue Water after swimming in Lake Michigan at Oval Beach after the Saugatuck City Council approved Monday night a contract to put beverage vending machines at those parks.

This is the first time the machines will be in a city park.

The Dr Pepper Snapple Group, 900 Brooks Ave. in Holland, will install and maintain the machines. The city will get a payment based in the percentage of items sold.

“The main goal is to serve a public need,” said City Manager Kirk Harrier, noting visitors have requested a way to get drinks at the parks.

The machine at Oval Beach will be located near the concession stand. The vending machine will be turned on only when the stand is not in operation.

The machine at Mount Baldhead will be placed near the restroom building and will be screened so the light doesn’t effect the view of the area.

Vending machines at Mount Baldhead?

Mount Baldhead Park in Saugatuck could soon have a beverage vending machine.

After walking up and back down the Mount Baldhead steps, you’ll most likely need a drink. If you forgot your water, what can you do?

This summer, you might be able to grab a drink from a vending machine at the Saugatuck park.

The city council will consider the idea of vending machines at Mount Baldhead and Oval Beach at its meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, May 14, at city hall, 102 Butler St.

“It’s something to try,” said City Manager Kirk Harrier at the city’s workshop session on Thursday, May 10. The contract could be for a year. “It’s a test thing to see if it works.”

The city has been approached by a vendor who will put the machines at the two parks. The city provides the location and electricity and gets a percentage of the profits.

At Oval Beach, the machine will be on only when the concession stand is closed.

At Mount Baldhead, the machine will be on 24-seven.

Both will dispense drinks only, not food, said Harrier.

Councilman Mark Bekken said those spots can be tranquil, natural areas and a vending machine could be distracting to visitors.

Councilman Bill Hess doesn’t want to see a “big, glaring, lit machine” in those spots, but said they can be screened and covered to protect the natural views.

Lining up in Saugatuck

Saugatuck City Councilman Jeff Spangler asked at a meeting May 7 if the centerlines on Elizabeth Street in front of the high school could be corrected. The lines on one side of the Main Street intersection don’t line up with the lines on the other side of the intersection. No one is sure if it’s a safety issue, but it does look odd.

There’s a centerline out of line in the city of Saugatuck and it’s just going to have to stay askew for a few more years.

Saugatuck and Douglas officials on Monday approved a joint centerline painting bid for a total of $5,280 form Accurate Striping. Saugatuck will pay $2,992.50 and Douglas will pay $2,287.50 to have the yellow road lines repainting throughout their cities.

The bid is about $1,000 less than what Saugatuck paid last year, said City Manager Kirk Harrier. The extra one-time engineering costs to get the joint bids this year ate away at the savings, but more money will be saved in the future, he said.

Saugatuck city crews will still paint the crosswalks and parking spaces.

Councilman Jeff Spangler asked if the centerlines on Elizabeth Street in front of the high school could be corrected. The lines on one side of the Main Street intersection don’t line up with the lines on the other side of the intersection. No one is sure if it’s a safety issue, but it does look odd.

The council had three options to fix it: Remove the paint at a cost, paint over the lines with black tar at a cost or let it go unpainted this year so it can fade out. The city can then repaint the lines in the next few years and not pay anything to correct the mismatch.

The council chose the last option, hoping the mismatch will fade away.

Douglas honors Dutchers vintage base ball club

Douglas Mayor Jim Wiley, center, reads a proclamation honoring the Douglas Dutchers Vintage Base Ball Club at Monday's city council meeting. Founder and owner Helen DeGeatano is to the right of Wiley.

Douglas Mayor Jim Wiley made it clear Monday night: He’s a fan of the Douglas Dutchers Vintage Base Ball Club.

“They’re a big asset to our area,” he said as he read a proclamation saluting the Dutchers on their upcoming 10th season.

The club, founded by Helen DeGeatano of Douglas, was formed to provide history and entertainment in Douglas and Saugatuck.

“City hall and the people here have really supported me,” said DeGeatano after receiving the award at Monday’s city council meeting. “We wouldn’t be here without the support of the community.”

The team opened its season last weekend at Tulip Time and will appear in the Muziekparade at 2 p.m. Saturday. The team’s next game is 2 p.m. May 19 against the South Haven Barkpeelers at Kids Corner Park in South Haven.

The team’s first home game at Beery Field is June 30.

In June, the team will head to Mackinac Island for a vintage base ball festival. Eighteen teams from four states and two countries will be playing near the Grand Hotel.

For more information, visit douglasdutchers.org.

Vintage base ball is different than baseball today. Vintage players do not have gloves. There is no sliding, lead-offs or stealing bases. When players make it across home plate, they go to the tallykeeper’s table and ask the keeper to record the score — called an ace. The player then rings a bell to note the score.

Perhaps the most striking difference from today’s game — There is no swearing, spitting, scratching, drinking alcohol or chewing tobacco. No comments can be made on the call of the umpire.

The city also honored DeGeatano for her service on the downtown development authority.

Douglas Mayor Jim Wiley reads a proclamation of appreciation to Helen DeGeatano on Monday, May 7, at a city council meeting. DeGeatano was lauded for her work on the downtown development authority.