Marion considering East Park improvements

Marion?s East Park may benefit from new activity equipment if the city is awarded a $221,940 special-projects Community Development Block Grant approved by the state. Patty Decker / Free Press

Two new racquetball courts, playground equipment and other improvements could be in East Park?s future with the Marion City Council?s decision to apply for grant funding.

The council, at its May 21 meeting, approved EBH Engineering for the East Park Community Develop?ment Block Grant project.

Rose Mary Saunders, representing Ranson Financial Consultants, said at least 40 grant applications are vying for $13 million from the Kansas Department of Commerce.

?(The city) asked for 90 percent, or $221,940, with the council designating $24,660 as (a 10 percent) match,? she said. ?It is a unique opportunity for small rural communities to upgrade city parks.?

Towns receiving a CDBG award will be announced July 15. The maximum amount the city could apply for was $350,000, but Saun?ders said the engineering costs came in at $246,000.

City Administrator Roger Holter said it is unusual for this type of grant to fund park projects in any form. Typically, he said, CDBG will fund water and street proposals.

In order to meet the prerequisites of this special round, Holter said funds needed to be designated for the project.

?In December, we received $39,000 from the sale of the Bown-Corby school,? he said. ?Those funds were in the general reimbursement account, and in order to ensure having dedicated funds for (the East Park project), we are requesting approval for a fund transfer of $24,660.?

The money would then be moved into the East Park project account.

Difference of opinion

While not against the project, Terry Jones, the city?s economic development director, said taking money from economic development funds was not the best fit for the East Park project.

His reasons included the annual costs of $41,000 to maintain the park, paying $19,500 to Ranson Financial Consultants, and spending additional money outside the city for racquets, racquet balls and other specialty items.

Jones also said if money continues being siphoned away from the economic development budget, it could hinder future projects.

?I understand my job is to bring money in,? he said. ?What frustrates me is how easy it is for (Marion) cemetery board to get new land or East Park to get funding, and I don?t have (money) for a raise or to send me to training.?

Saunders clarified a few points Jones mentioned.

Saunders the $41,000 amount is an operation and maintenance line item cost from the approved budget and is for all three parks, not just East Park.

She also the $19,000 amount is because the city doesn?t have a certified administrator on staff.

?The city did put it out for proposal, and it was voted on,? she said. ?We all know dollars are tight.?

Municipal properties

Regarding the sale of the Bown-Corby building, Holter said properties owned by the municipality are not properties owned by specific departments within the governmental unit.

?(Bown-Corby) has been an asset of the city,? he said. ?Through (the council?s) gracious efforts to support (Jones? efforts), this building was discounted considerably in order to further a possible project.?

Holter said if Jones is concerned about racquetball racquets or balls being purchased out of town, this could be another opportunity for economic development.

Holter said anytime the city has an opportunity to make a 900 percent return on investment, as in this case, the city is being a good steward of citizens? money.

Priorities

Mayor Todd Heitschmidt encouraged Jones to bring economic development ideas to the council for review.

?If you come up with a $40,000 project, we are going to seriously look at it and find a way to do it,? Heit?schmidt said. ?We don?t want you to feel like it is a slight toward you. It was just money we have in this budget cycle.?

Heitschmidt said there is no guarantee the city will get the CDBG grant.

?If we don?t, the ($40,000) is available to us and I will expect bigger things by the end of the year from you to spend this money (for economic development),? he said.

Councilor Chad Adkins said he hasn?t voted against anything with a positive economic development impact for the city.

Councilor Melissa Mer?mis said she would be supportive of economic development efforts that would help the city grow.

?It?s not about taking (funds) out of one person?s budget?which is not your money,? she said. ?It?s about supporting appropriate decisions to better our community.?

Land purchase

Roger Hannaford, Marion City Cemetery board president, reviewed a proposal to buy land for cremation and serenity garden.

?The cemetery board has been working on this acquisition for many years,? he said.

Property owners Andrew and Janice Ash are wiling to sell their parcel for $5,000, which would allow the city to have an additional 188.5 years of availability, Hanna?ford said. The current developed cemetery land has about 561?2 years availability.

In addition to price of the land, Hannaford said the city would also pay $300 for the land survey, $175 for a title search, $150 on deed creation and filing, $180 to relocate a water hydrant and $400 in requested burial spots by the Ashes.

Future costs to develop the area included a privacy fencing for $6,350 and a circle drive for $12,900, Hanna?ford said.

The council approved the purchase.

Chingawassa restrooms

Dave Crofoot, a member of the Chingawassa Days committee, spoke during the public forum about ideas for taking care of dirt in front of the newly constructed restrooms at Central Park.

Crofoot had offered suggestions at both the May 11 and 21 council meetings regarding a plan to avoid mud holes in front of those facilities. One idea, he said, was to bring in sod, which was priced at $1.85 per square yard by a Wichita supplier.

With 2,000 people in the park during the festival, he said at the May 11 meeting, there?s a lot of dirt showing.

Marty Fredrickson, who is overseeing the restroom project, said the city is considering seed rye and fescue, covered with hay or straw to protect it.

In response to Crofoot?s sod idea, Holter said even with daily watering, foot traffic would kill it.

At the May 21 meeting, Crofoot again addressed the council about Chingawassa and fixing the 20 feet of dirt at the entrance of the new restrooms.

?It doesn?t look like it will dry out anytime soon,? he said.

Crofoot said it was suggested that the city dump 50 tons of gravel at a cost of $600, then remove the gravel after the festival.

Holter said the issue Crofoot brought to the council would not be a safety concern by the time of the Chingawassa.

?We have worked with some of the best minds in town (on this project),? Holter said. ?The cost of $280,000 came in at what was donated by charitable contributions in our community. For us to add additional expenses…we have to balance it.?

Holter said there are sidewalks to the restrooms, and on the stage side, for people to use.

Crofoot said people aren?t going to walk clear around, but instead would walk a straight line to the restrooms. Heitschmidt said it might require putting up a fence to block it off.

?That would take away some of my seating for the stage,? Crofoot responded.

?If it dries off, we will be fine,? Heitschmidt said.

No action was taken because the matter was a public forum item and not part of the council?s formal agenda.

Other business

In other business, the council:

? approved Pamela Varenhorst as a new member to the museum board.

? took no action regarding a request from MOPS? ?Run For Your Momma,? which is planned Aug. 1.

? was updated on condemnation at 530 Walnut St. The council will give the administration until May 31 to get the condemnation issue resolved.

? approved extending the audit timeline from May 1 to June 1.

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