The Trenton Park Board jumped the first hurdle in an effort to construct a skate park and voted to make the final payment to the design firm for the new family aquatic center during a meeting Wednesday night.
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The Trenton Park Board jumped the first hurdle in an effort to construct a skate park and voted to make the final payment to the design firm for the new family aquatic center during a meeting Wednesday night.
Board member Gordon Joiner, at the request of Board President Steve Muff, updated the board on the question of insurance costs if the city was to construct a skate park. Joiner said he has found that the liability insurance cost is based on payroll, not on facilities the city owns. The question of increased liability costs had been a factor in the board?s consideration of constructing a skate park, but Muff said that with that hurdle gone, it is time to start looking at securing funding for the project.
Local businessman Robert Williams was at the meeting with about a dozen youth who are interested in having a skate park constructed. He presented the board with a packet that included a grant application for up to $25,000 from the Tony Hawk Foundation. Williams has worked with Park Superintendent Jason Shuler in applying for the grant. Also included in the packet was a petition with the names of 78 persons who are interested in having a skate park constructed in Trenton, as well as designs of skate parks in other communities, safety information and information on how to plan and implement ideas for a skate park.
With funding the next priority, Williams presented a check for $1,000 to the board, which represents $100 donations from 10 local businesses including Auto Dynamics, Taco Bell/KFC, Trenton Coca-Cola Bottling Co., MTO, Andy?s Auto Body, Circle H Car Wash, Stevens Excavations, Gifts by Garcia, Barnes-Baker and This N That. A check for $250 had been donated at the November meeting.
Shuler requested that Williams begin working on a design that would be appropriate for a skate park in Trenton. Williams said he would be interested in a facility similar to the one in Carrollton, which is 60 feet by 80 feet and cost $50,000. There was also some discussion about forming a non-profit organization to raise funds for the skate park, with Shuler to contact City Clerk Cindy Simpson to see how to go about forming such an organization.
The board met with Harold Clevenger of Larkin Aquatics, the design firm for the Trenton Family Aquatic Center. There were some questions about the final payment due to Larkin due to change orders that had occurred during construction. Board members discussed the six change orders and, while no vote had to be taken, agreed to pay the final payment of $17,424.65 to Larkin. It was noted that the final cost of the project was only 1.25 percent over Larkin?s original estimate. Clevenger, in response to a question from the board, said that to construct the same facility this year would cost 20 to 25 percent more than last year.
Shuler gave a report on his activities for the month and noted that he has ordered a new snow plow for the park truck. The cost of the plow will be split between the park department, airport, police department and fire department, with each entity paying $1,200, which is 25 percent of the total cost. Shuler uses the snow plow to clear not only park property, but also the airport and the Trenton Public Safety Complex. Shuler said he expects dirt work to begin on the walking trail extension next spring and reported he has been helping the street department get ready to install chain link fencing around some areas. He was given the approval to assist the Trenton R-9 Preschool in preparing a fall zone for new playground equipment. The board also approved a contract with Southwestern Bell Telephone for the pay phone at Eastside Park. The department receives 20 percent of profits from the phone.
The board?s next regular meeting is scheduled for 4:30 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 5.