Florence: Park project timeline becomes issue
By SUSAN MARSHALL
News editor
Florence City Council denied a PRIDE committee request Monday night for the city's assistance moving playground equipment from Veteran's Park to Unity Park.
Del Leeds, PRIDE representative, explained the committee would like to have the equipment moved to accommodate changes to Veteran's Park that are part of a renovation plan previously approved by the council.
PRIDE members want to remove an old cottonwood tree from the back of the park. The playground equipment is close enough to the tree that it could be damaged when the tree comes down.
Several council members opposed the plan, noting that there is no specific timeline for the park project and they don't want to see it drag on for two or three years while PRIDE raises the money to finish it.
"I was under the impression PRIDE was going to raise the money before they started," said councilman Trayce Warner. "How much have they got on hand now? I don't want to see a 'Renovation in progress' sign down there for the next three years.
"They sprayed the grass to kill it and that didn't improve the looks of the area. Maybe it had to be done that way, but I hope they are getting their money so they can proceed fairly quickly."
Councilman Bryan Harper noted the equipment would be a good addition to Unity Park and that there is room for it there.
"But won't it have to be cemented in?" he asked. "It doesn't look to me like that is just a temporary move. How hard is it going to be to get it out of the ground at Veteran's Park?"
Leeds responded that PRIDE's intention is to level the ground at Veteran's Park this winter. The tree and the play equipment need to be removed first.
"I don't think PRIDE is going to be able to satisfy you guys with a timeline for the project if we can't even get started," he told council members.
Warner also asked about who would be taking down the tree and whether or not that person had liability insurance. Leeds said he did not know the answer.
In the end Mayor Greg Winn asked that Leeds return with more solid information regarding insurance and the amount of time PRIDE thinks it will need to raise the money to complete the renovation project.
Leeds also asked the city to mow an area along the Cottonwood River where PRIDE plans to host a community fall festival closer to Halloween. Council agreed to have city employees take care of clearing the area.
Councilman Bryan Harper brought up a problem that has arisen between the Holiday Motel, the American Red Cross, and a Florence couple whose house burned this past summer.
Harper said he encouraged the family to get a room at the motel after the house fire, assuming the Red Cross or the family's insurance would pick up the tab. He said that while details are not clear about who is liable for the motel bill, the motel owners have been left with no one picking up the tab.
Harper asked if there was a fund of some sort through the city or a local church organization that could defray some of the expense being absorbed by the owner Gaspar Covarrubias, who said the bill was "about $1,200."
Warner volunteered to delve into the issue during the week, sort out the problem with the agencies involved, and see if some funding is available.
In other business the council:
— learned from Winn that Florence reserve police officer Jeremy Wilkerson was conducting a routine traffic stop Saturday night on U.S.-50 that resulted in the arrest of two individuals for possession of drugs. Winn told council members that Wilkerson confiscated marijuana and "an extremely large amount of cocaine." The drugs were allegedly being transported from Wichita to Junction City. The arrest was made within the Florence city limits.
— heard from city superintendent Phil Baldwin the pool house has been painted, city cleanup week began Monday, a live trap was delivered to Harper in hopes of capturing a family of skunks, and city crews will soon begin filling cracks in the streets.
— heard from fire chief Tim Parmley that fire department radios have been repaired and he has ordered two sets of gloves for a new fireman. Parmley also announced the addition of two cadets to the Florence fire department. The cadet program allows young people between the ages of 14 and 18 to participate in firefighter training and meetings with volunteer firemen.
— approved the purchase of two new front tires for the mower.
— discussed the possibility of creating "dry hydrants" along the Cottonwood River to assist the fire department when it fights grass fires outside the city limits. No action was taken.
— heard from Winn the city has met water testing requirements for lead and copper content for three consecutive testing periods and will now be required to test only once every three years instead of annually.
— heard a request from Warner for a written report of police activity by the reserve officers filling in during the absence of chief Conroy Miller who is at the police academy for training.
