Bids For Rock and Oil Chipping Discussed at Park Board Meeting
DEBORAH SIMCOX Correspondent
A Compilation Report with assessed valuation was presented via phone by Mark Vaughn of Franklin & Vaughn, LLC, Certified Public Accountants, Edwardsville, at the Vandalia Park Board meeting held March 13 in the Evans Public Library Meeting Room.
During the discussion on the approval of the March Bill list Baseball/Soccer Chair Steve Hawkins reported that the practice shed is being used daily and the tarp for it is available for installation. He also said that the bids are in from Vandalia Asphalt Service for the widening of one of the runway entrances to 14 ‘.
Park Supervisor Kent Torbeck reported that bids are out for the rock and oil for chipping and for a front mower tractor.
Airport/Insurance Chair Mike Radliff said that the Vandalia Airport fuel sales are up, in part due to the Greenville Airport running out of airport fuel and planes being sent to Vandalia Airport. Barry Stoltz, P.E., Assistant Vice President of Hanson Professional Services, Inc. presented an update. After discussion, a motion was made and passed to accept and sign airport bids (Base bid $178,000 – Alt 1 $30,000 – Alt 2 $87,000.)
Baseball/Soccer Chair Steve Hawkins reported that the proposed concession stand at Pitt Field was installed.
The issue of the “Crows’ Nest” was discussed by Baseball/Soccer Chair Steve Hawkins and Field of Dreams representative Ryan Lewis. The “proposed” project is to be a two story building/tower located behind home plate at Vandalia Mutual Insurance Field. The bottom floor would be for storage and the top floor would be for radio broadcasting. Hawkins said that he was unaware of a concrete slab being poured until several people asked about it and that no one from Field of Dreams had attended a Park Board meeting regarding this item and gone through the process of introducing the “Crow’s Nest” project to the Park Board and presenting it for Park Board vote. Ryan Lewis stated that “it had been OK’d”. All of the Board Members expressed their concerns on the project, including liability, responsibility of removing any graffiti and other issues and the need to follow policy and procedure before beginning any work that falls under the Vandalia Park Board. The cost of $38,000 is to be covered by Field of Dreams. After discussion the vote was then passed with contingencies of a written explanation of the project and a Lien Waiver Form.
A presentation and request was made by Bryce Kistler regarding moving the fence the TBD Field at Kelley Park. This would accommodate other teams such as the Girls’ Softball Team. The improvements are estimated at $30,000.
The next regular Vandalia Park Board Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 10 at 4 p.m. in the Evans Public Library Meeting Room.
