The fountain in Basin Park is sinking, along with the foundation. Parks and Recreation Director Sam Dudley said at the Jan. 21 commission meeting they had only received one repair bid, which was from Stacy’s Stone Work. Stacy Mahurin bid $130,000 to do the excavation, fix the foundation, and have an engineer build everything back up.
Dudley said he intends to ask the CAPC for help funding the project and wanted commissioners to agree on covering a certain amount from its budget. He said that Parks could cover around $55,000 and he’s hoping the CAPC would cover between $75,000 to $100,000. He said he would look into other sources to help fund the project.
Dudley wants to start the work as soon as possible so that it can be finished by mid-March. The stairs under the Balm of Life sign would be pulled out to access under the fountain and the area near the Doughboy statue, and the south garden would be roped off for the three-to-four weeks. He said other parts of the park would remain open.
Parks as bought new Christmas lights and intends to keep replacing the old with new lights. Dudley also said he is starting to make plans for this year’s Jamboreeka and has booked Fossils of Ancient Robots as one of the main acts.
Dudley said that Stacy’s Stone Work has already repaired parts of a wall at Basin Park, and that with some money from the Banks Family Grant, work on repairing the stairs has commenced and more benches are having memorial plaques installed. The new apartment at Harmon Park has passed inspections and is being cleaned up for rental. Dudley also mentioned that a blood drive will be held on Jan. 31 at the community center and urged people to donate.
Trees are being planted at Lake Leatherwood City Park, including the Ozark chinquapin that was facing extinction due to blight. Parks will plant 15 native pollinator trees in what will be a native tree garden. This work is being done with the Arkansas Forestry Division and Dudley said he is hoping to dedicate it to the late arborist Chris Fischer.
Dudley noted that with the Banks Family Grant the money raised for the baseball field, and several other sources, the budget was “in the black.”
Ken Trimble, who was instrumental in getting Bee City USA certification for the city, was welcomed as a new commissioner. Commissioners voted on Mark Ingram as chair for his second year, Rodd Grey as vice-chair and Aaron Borey as secretary.