The Trenton Park Board took action on a variety of issues Tuesday night, approving the installation of a inground sprinkler system, announcing the purchase of playground equipment and approving the purchase of an all-terrain vehicle.
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The Trenton Park Board took action on a variety of issues Tuesday night, approving the installation of a inground sprinkler system, announcing the purchase of playground equipment and approving the purchase of an all-terrain vehicle.
Board members gave Park Superintendent Jason Shuler the go-ahead to install infield sprinklers on Johnson, Griffin and Grimes fields to help decrease soil loss due to wind erosion. The project was estimated to cost about $1,013 and it was noted that it would be helpful in establishing a stand of grass on the infield of Grimes Field, which is to be seeded this fall. Board members agreed to look into the possibility of installing drinking fountains at each of the dugouts on those three fields since the water line will already be run to the fields.
In a related matter, the board met with Delvin Spencer, who is the coach of the American Legion Blue Jays baseball team. Spencer expressed his opinion that the infield at Grimes Field should remain dirt rather than being seeded. After a lengthy discussion, board members said that since they had already given Bob Shields, the North Central Missouri College men?s baseball coach, permission to seed the field, he should be given the chance to see if a good stand of grass can be established by May 2003.
It was announced that the board was able to purchase playground equipment through a sealed bid process from the Green Hills Head Start Program. A Little Tykes unit was purchased for a cost of $1,751.01 and will be placed in Tot Town in Eastside Park, replacing some equipment that has been deemed unsafe. A torpedo slide was also purchased at a cost of $201.01 and it has not been decided where the slide will be placed. Money to purchase the equipment was raised through the recent mud-a-thon fund-raiser held by the board. The Grounds Committee will meet at 4:30 p.m., Thursday to decide exactly where the new equipment will be placed.
A brochure on a Memorial Tree and Bench Program for the parks was presented by Chuck Lankheit and approved by the board. The brochure outlines how persons may donate trees and benches to the park system and will be available to the public in the near future.
In other business, the board voted to purchase a 1995 Honda 300 4X4 all-terrain vehicle from Terry Spillman at a cost of $2,750 and gave Shuler permission to hire a part-time employee for the park department.
Board members also:
? learned that the department has been awarded the Trim 2 Grant, which will provide funding for the removal of 17 trees in the city?s parks and replacement of those trees. The grant application sought $10,000, although it is not yet known exactly how much funding will be received.
? heard updates on the Rock Barn courtyard roofing project, which is 70 percent complete, and the walk/bike trail, which is in the final stages of construction.
? gave permission to the Trenton High School outdoor education class to use the pool for a canoeing class for six days. The school district will be charged $175 to use the pool, which is the cost for the chemicals.
? learned that Dave Woodson has donated an air conditioner to be used in one of the park buildings, such as a shelter house or concession stand.
?heard a report on the pool, which will be open until Aug. 18 every day and then on the weekends of Aug. 24-25 and Aug. 31-Sept. 2. In addition, board members agreed to schedule a time to visit the Albany aquatic center. That center was constructed in 1996 through a sales tax and Albany city officials said attendance at the pool increased 30 percent in the first year.
? heard a presentation from City Attorney Chris Raynes on the open meetings law. Raynes emphasized that meetings should be as open as possible, with complete agendas and as few executive sessions as possible. He said the board is never required to go into executive session and is only allowed to have a closed session in very specific situations.
?learned that Brock Pfost of White Cloud Engineering has made drainage improvements at the west entrance of Moberly Park at his own expense.
? discussed a request that the board send two representatives to a meeting of a group being organized to help renovate the Trenton High School tennis courts. While Chuck Lankheit said he would attend the meeting, board members said they did not feel that it is the park board?s responsibility to help pay for renovating the courts. It was noted that the park system has its own tennis courts and the board cannot even afford to maintain those courts properly.
The next regular board meeting is scheduled for 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 3.