Published: January 15, 2008 04:23 am            

Council OKs plan for Reagan Park upgrades

PALESTINE — City staff was given the green light Monday night to begin the planning stages for improvements to Reagan Park.

The Palestine city council unanimously approved authorizing City Manager Dale Brown to seek proposals for a new master plan for the nearly 100-year-old park, and to apply for a matching grant from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

If the city is awarded the Outdoor Recreation Grant, it would provide 50 percent matching funds, up to $500,000, for park renovations.

Mayor Carolyn Salter and city Main Street manager/historic preservation director Neely Plumb told the council that grants typically require a master plan to be submitted which would describe the park’s current condition and how the funds would be used to improve it.

Reagan Park was included in a more general 2004 master plan for all of the city’s parks, recreation and open spaces, but the TPWD grant would require something specific to the 12.3 acre park.

Renovations could include improvements to the playground structures, playground fall zones, exercise trail, gazebo, splash fountain and increased park security and lighting, according to information in the council’s agenda packet.

In addition, Salter said that she would like city staff to consider having the bronze statue of John F. Reagan by Pompeo Coppini appraised in case of vandalism or theft. Salter noted that bronze had joined copper as metals sought by thieves for their scrap resale value, since bronze contains copper.

According to news stories, Vermont police recovered 23 stolen bronze statues, valued at $3 million, at a scrap metal yard in late December. Thieves stole nearly 800 bronze tombstone flower vases from the Glendale Memorial Gardens cemetery in Toronto in May, and more than 1,000 bronze flag holders were reported stolen from a cemetery in Pennsylvania in December.

In other business, the council:

• HELD public hearings on 18 applications for historic landmark designation.

• HEARD the Mayor’s report.

• HEARD the City Manager’s report, which is expected to include a report of the city attorney’s fees and monthly reports from development services, municipal court and the fire department.

• APPROVED the appointment of Dr. Candace Carden, a local veterinarian, to the Health Advisory Board.

• OPENED bids concerning a request for proposal (RFP) on the Capgemini Texas Capital Fund Project — Willow Creek Business Park lift station wet well improvement.

• APPROVED the Consent Agenda, which includes minutes from the work sessions and regular meetings on Nov. 26 and Dec. 10, and minutes from the regular meeting held Dec. 29.

• APPROVED ordinances designating 18 properties as Palestine historic landmarks.

• SCHEDULED a public hearing for Jan. 28 for a specific use permit for a veterinary clinic at 1301 W. Palestine Ave.

• SCHEDULED a public hearing for Jan. 28 for a zone change from restricted professional office (RPO) to multi-family low density (MF-1) at 1104 S. Magnolia St.

• APPROVED engineering services for the water treatment plant force main project for Klotz Associates.

• APPROVED repair to the high service pump #1 (200 hp) at the water treatment plant.

• APPROVED Freese and Nichols professional services agreement dated Oct. 12, 2004-amendment 7.

• APPROVED a resolution authorizing the city manager to apply for a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department grant for outdoor recreation facilities.

• APPROVED authorizing the city manager to enter into a lease-purchase agreement for $136,482 between the City of Palestine and Regions Bank of Palestine for the city’s new street sweeper. According to city finance director Bobby Pennington, the street sweeper was paid for out of the internal service fund but the lease-purchase would allow the city to spread out the expense over a five-year period rather than all at once.

• APPROVED budget amendments for fiscal year 2007-08.

• APPROVED Franklin Bank for the city’s bank depository services.

• HEARD comments from council members during the “Items from Council” portion of the meeting.

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Beth Foley may be contacted via e-mail at bfoley@palestineherald.com

        

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