McHargues Make Donation To Park Board

The Trenton Park Department received a $1,000 donation and elected officers for the coming year during a meeting on Wednesday night at city hall.
A check was presented to the board on behalf of Dr. Nick and Cheri McHargue, who sponsor the Gooseberry Festival each year during the third week in June. Board President Don Altes said the McHargues have made a donation to the park board each year since the festival began and thanked the couple for their generosity and support of the park system. Assistant Park Superintendent Don Kennedy said those involved with the festival did a “great job” of cleaning up the festival grounds, leaving very little for the park department to do.
The board then voted to allow the McHargues use of the park facilities for the festival during the third weekend of June in 2015. The festival normally runs from Friday to Sunday each year.
The board voted to change the time for monthly meetings to 5:15 p.m. in an effort to allow more time for members to get to meetings. The board had been meeting at 4:45 p.m. and some concerns had been expressed about members being able to get away from work to attend.
The board voted to seek bids for a new backstop at the Upper Moberly Field in an effort to determine what the cost to replace the current backstop would be. The board plans to replace the fencing at the field and would like to include the backstop as part of the work. It was noted that the current back stop, which is about 15 feet tall, would be replaced with a 10-foot backstop with a curved covering above the home plate area. The board will also be asking Superintendent Jason Shuler to address a drainage issue in that area as well.
The board re-elected officers for the coming year, including Altes as president, Duane Helmandollar as vice president and Vickie Weaver as secretary.
The board reviewed a list of park department facilities damaged during the recent hail storm and members were told repairs would be bid out as part of the city bid for repairs. Members asked that the park board be represented in the bidding and repair process, noting issues that arose when the same bidding process was used during a storm several years ago that damaged city and park department facilities. Damages listed for the park department included hail damage to lighting and fencing at Grimes Field, hail damage to all slopes of the laminated roof and air conditioning fins at the Rock Barn, hail damage to various items at the Trenton Family Aquatic Center, hail damage to the Moberly Park enclosed shelter house and damage to the roof of the gazebo at the Sesquicentennial Park.
The board discussed the work being done on Johnson Field, including issues with the seeding of the outfield. It was noted that seeding has been done two times in an effort to get grass to grow. Persons are reminded not to use the outfield area while the work is being completed as the park board hopes to have the field ready in time for use this fall by the Trenton R-9 School District and North Central Missouri College. The church and city softball leagues that normally use the field are playing this summer on Grimes Field.
Meanwhile, block work on the dugouts at Johnson Field has been completed and it is hoped to begin work on the dugout roofs next week. A road drainage project at Griffin Field is also continuing, with rock work to be completed this week and dirt work done next week, weather permitting.
Altes and Sarah Allen will be working with Robert Shields to complete work on a brochure to promote fundraising to renovate the Moberly Park tennis courts. Shields said a letter has been put together to mail to potential donors, however, the brochure work has not been finished. Altes said he would like to “see some movement” on that project.
Gary Berry reported that around 270 youth took part in TBA this year, which he said is a significant increase in numbers. He recognized coaches, umpires and volunteers for providing their time in making league play a success. Mrs. Allen reported that over 160 youth took part in the soccer league games held during the month of May.
There was a discussion about concession stands, with several members indicating concessions not always being available when games were being played. Helmandollar suggested a committee be formed to look at the issue in preparation for next year’s TBA season.
During the park superintendent’s report, it was noted that the replacement pump and motor for the play system at the aquatic center has still not arrived. Trim and broadleaf spraying is being done in all city parks and assistance was given to the American Legion to ready a mud volleyball pit for use during the July 4 activities.
The next meeting is scheduled for 5:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 6.