County Commissioners - Special Meeting

We'll call this meeting to order at 4 pm our special call meeting. If we would, let's all rise for the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you all. Okay, we call this meeting a special meeting be held in request for approval to move forward on the application of party grant. If awarded, the grant will be included upgrades to Veteran Park Memorial Park which will consist of two ball fields, new playground area, including additional addition of handicap equipment and paving of the walk walking track. So, Bill, you've got all the details. I'm going to hand that off to you.

Yes, Mr. Chairman. Just uh briefly, I wanted to recommend that the county proceed immediately with the development of two children's ball fields at Veterans Park while continuing to work towards long-term the long-term goal of developing four additional ball fields in partnership with the school system. Um the rationale for taking immediate action is that number one, we the grant eligibility and timing. The county owns the Veterans Park property, making this project fully eligible for current grant funding. However, the application deadline is May the 1st, which is tomorrow, right? Missing this deadline would delay potential funding by at least one year. Secondly, uh because the land is already under county ownership, there are no legal or administrative barriers preventing us from moving forward immediately. And third, community impact. The addition of the children children's bus will address an existing need for youth recreation in our community and provide near-term benefits to families. So, what I'm proposing is a dual track approach. Number one, that we would advance immediately with the two children's ball fields at Veterans Park to secure available funding and deliver timely community benefits. And number two, to continue the development efforts on the four field joint project by work continuing to work collaboratively with the school system to resolve any legal or ownership issues, positioning the project for future grant opportunities. And why does this make sense? I think it it gives us a chance to capture immediate funding opportunities rather than letting them lapse. It delivers visible progress to our residents in the near term on parks and recreation. It maintains the volume on a larger,

more more complex project without delaying actionable improvements. Uh it reduces risk by not tying all recreational development to a single uncertain timeline. In conclusion, I'd say delayed action on the Veterans Park project would result in a missed funding opportunity and postpone needed improvements for our youth. Moving forward now does not preclude the joint project. It strengthens our overall position by demonstrating progress and commitment to recreational development across the county. That's all I have. Mr. Chair,

okay. Is there welcome to poll for discussion? Any question, comments from any of the any commissioners? Question. What what are the two different sizes of the ball fields? Can you tell us? Um David,

I cannot tell you that. Um we Mark went to measure and and u but yesterday it was raining and today they did not get an opportunity to go down there. Um but the two ball fields for uh T-ball and coach pitch are a lot smaller than the regulation fields that will be built up at the school. Um so these two ball fields down there um the you know 200 feet I think is what regulation is for middle school ball and and high school ball. But these are less. I think you can get um by with 150 ft on the the coach pitch. And I'm not sure about the T-ball field, but it's smaller. It's smaller than the other one,

which would still allow for um expansion if we want to expand. Um but it also allows for this to be multi-use. So we have the amount of grass still there so that they can also still play soccer there at the Veterans Memorial Park. They I mean these two drawings are not set in stone, right? No, no, no. This is just a of something for the application. Yeah. Just to give you some idea of what we're talking about so you could visualize it a little bit.

Yeah. Because uh I think like David said that the main the main field is 200 feet from in back of home plate to the outside fence with 175 ft down first baseline 175 down third baseline. Okay. T-ball is about a half half of that. It's very very very small. Um, and like I say, these two are not, this drawing is not set in stone. That's right. Okay. I like the ball fields are great. We all support that, but I also like mentioned the playground equipment. I think that's a very good

asset for parents and you got picnic tables and stuff up here. I think that's a very good Has that been There's wet land right in there. Has that been checked out that that's doable to put this? Yeah, we can we we can put this in there without disturbing that little patch of wetland there. And and you can see that on that drawing, just that little teardrop section right there. That's all of the wetland that there is on that side of the walking track at that at that particular location. So the the we can build a fence around the playground, have it where it's it's monitored and and by the parents and and I think it'll it'll be a big asset.

And then the walking track because of the unevenness, there's a lot of people just they're they're just not able to walk it. So the paving of that walking track will help us as we age to be able to get out and exercise more on a solid surface and it not being um uneven. And you know, I I don't want to fall and I'm sure other people don't want to either. So, I think that will that will make a benefit for um a Asian population, too. So, it'd be for all ages. A good walking trail would draw a lot of people down there to have a good asphalt and and clean back

clear way. And we would make it where it's ADA compliant. question about the uh the little um wetlands there. Is that a state or a federal problem? It's state as far as I know. Uh I think uh Saturday that I know that we're going to have a chance some of us have a chance to talk to our local representatives. And I mean it's it's it's it's worthless what's sitting there. I mean it it

it really takes out another ball field if that could be filled in. And I think that's something that we need to discuss maybe Saturday. Um, other than that um, you know, like I said, as long as this isn't set in stone, if we're able to make it too big fields, can we do that? Yeah, we're we're not they don't care about the the uh the size about the size of the field. They just want to know that we whatever we're going to do can be done. Yeah, that's kind of within, you know, our our decisions internally.

And I don't think the size of the fields will determine much difference in the cost either. Probably not. Uh I mean, they shouldn't really. I mean, urine fields basically the same. The bases are the same. Just the difference between the B home plate and first base is different in T- bowl than it is in the mix size field.

Okay. on that on that drawing, Bobby, that if if we can do something with that wetland area there and develop a one additional ball field there and we can move that playground on the other side of the walking track where that grass area is there just adjacent to it. as long as we don't encroach on the space that has been set aside because of the grant that was was received for the restoration for the stream. We ought to make sure that we stay off of the the restoration of the stream part so that we don't encroach on that that's protected by that. So, as long as we don't do anything with that and on the other side of the track along the creek, there is no plan of anything for us to do other than what's already there that has been approved. So, we shouldn't that shouldn't even come into play. But on this upper that upper side right there, if we move that playground, we'd want to make sure that we kept it in a area where it didn't encroach on that part. Well, I know at one time on the bridge that goes across the creek, there's a a fairly good area there that that was talked about being a playground area. So, I mean, you know, things can be moved around.

They can be. Yeah, they can be. Let's just don't lose sight of how that creek can flood. I mean, Oh, yeah. Water went there and done a great job on restoration. is good. But still, you know, we could and I think another plus is we have the bathrooms at the concession area and I think that those should be open when we have a game down there or when they're having practice cuz right now the the boys sort of go find a place wherever they can but we've got the bathroom so we might as well utilize them. Yeah.

And uh I I think it's a great idea. Great. Yeah. I had a question and a comment, but the comment is is I think it's a great way to utili utilize county property and and make it more useful. You know, I know there'll be some drainage stuff there and grading, you know, they to keep that because it's so flat, but it can be done. And uh the other thing is you had mentioned I I know there's a bathroom there. You said a concession stand. Do they have a concession in that same bathroom? So that could be used that way too. That' be great. Yeah. There's concession stand there too, ain't it?

Concession. Yeah. Where the covered area by the memorial. You got your picnic tables on you, right? Yeah. I think there's six picnic tables there and I think there's one or two picnic tables close to the bridge if you on that cleared area right there and more picnic tables could be you know added. Yeah, sure.

I mean it right now a lot of people go down there and practice you know it's sort of organized but it's disorganized. And another thing, there's two posts down there right in the middle of the fields and they've got a steel sign right around them. And if you walk down there, if you've got a kid playing ball or something, he's running to catch something, there's a strong possibility they can run into those post or those steel signs.

Well, my opinion, the signs don't need to be there. The only thing they're saying is you can't have alcohol on the field. Well, you put those signs over by the the walkway as they come in. Yeah, I agree. Yeah, I agree. I just have two questions and and that's it. What's the uh what's the current parking capacity uh at there at the memorial in that paid lot? um without counting them probably um less than 30 or right around 30 vehicles.

Well, in the past, if I may, in the past, uh we've been able to park across the street at the uh John Miller's property. There's two big gates there and one small gate that can be open. I I haven't heard John say he's not going to let us park there anymore of Memorial Day and Veterans Day. We look at that for uh overflow parking.

Right now, uh we've never had to use it. I think we're getting ready to to repave or seal the parking lot at the Veterans Park and look at putting in addition or restriping it. And at that time, we could look and see if we need any additional parking. I think 30 is a low number. And there again, it depends on if you bring Bill's big pickup or if you bring my little car, you know, there's there's I think there's plenty of room for the parking cuz I know on Sundays they have a lot of soccer players and that parking lot still holds everything that they bring for those uh extracurricular activities.

Yeah, go ahead. I I think that's I mean I think if we got some overflow like just as a backup I think they'd be fine because we want to have room for four teams you know and all our families and people to be on the playground at the same time and folks to walk the track. So I just I think it's a great plan. I just want to make sure we've got the capacity for it. Sure. Uh in the long run I think it's important that we don't lose sight of the other projects that we're working on and I appreciate you mentioning that in your opening. Um, the only other clarification that I'd like to pre-emphasize, all we're doing is approving uh, Rael to move forward with the grant application. Correct. Yep.

So, this rendering here is nothing official. We're not married to that. That's exactly right. We can still go through an RFQ process and have something that, you know, looks like a little more set in stone. Um, so as long as as we're good with that, I'm I'm satisfied and I' I'd be happy to make a motion that we authorize Hold the motion just one more quick and it's fine with we're going to hold the motion.

Well, just one more thing to add to what you're talking about the overflow parking. Um, I think we could if we th if something this goes through and we are able to do something like this down there. It's a possibility that we could reach out to do if we end up having so much that people do need to park over and John lets us park there that we could get a pedestrian approved pedestrian crossing with, you know, flashing lights and stuff. I know it's a little, but if we have that kind of volume, I think they would be open to doing something to help us with people crossing back and forth road. But that's something I think we could look into.

I think they could definitely help with that. And I think on the on the very first plan that we looked at originally, they had offered to help build a uh an entrance to the property uh that kind of dropped down from the road to the bank. So maybe they could do something a similar fashion. Okay. uh to help us out with that. So yeah, that sounds good. Okay. These uh black marks here at the ball, that is that is seating capacity. Bleachers. Yes, bleachers. Bleachers. Yes. Okay. Good. Yes. Good. M Mr. Chairman.

Yes, sir. Um, I uh coming off what you just were uh commenting on, Garrison, I talked with Missy, you know, the superintendent of of schools and and told her that I was going to be presenting this to you all today. I wanted to make sure that she understood that we want to go full steam ahead still with the other ball fields. She said this is sounds like a great idea and she was positive about it. also spoke to Jose and and he said the same thing. But just so everybody knows, this is two separate projects running for this does not affect the funding. That's exactly correct. Okay.

Yeah. And I just want I just thought since they're he's there are partners on on this whole project that they needed to to hear that this was a possibility. Yeah. Just so there's no misinterpretations. I appreciate that. Sure. Open the floor for a motion. So move. Got a motion to hear a second. Second. Motion second. Any further discussion? All in favor? That's wonderful. Thank you all very much. With the bleach or is it aluminum? Yeah, they'll all be portable just like the others. Yes. Yes. Everything will be portable. Do you know what the seating capacity would be? Just for curiosity. I don't know for sure.

And the ones at the fairground are not our property. They're the are that they're the property of the fairground. Yes. So these would be new ones. Yes, sir. All right. Is anything else? Anybody have any questions, comments from the audience back there? All righty. Take a motion to close. Second. All in favor? Thank y'all. Thank you. Brian, want to comment to you buddy about the paper. That was super good job.