Rec improvements approved
Aragon is about to look different thanks to the city council members approving spending on a new parking lot at Tom Pittman Field and an upgraded community center where work had already begun to make improvements.
The Aragon barbecue taking place at Pittman Field again this year served as good motivation for building the now in construction parking lot behind the field.
Workers finished clearing trees and took the stumps with them, and now the city council plans to have a round of slate added to make the parking lot accessible.
Aragon Mayor Garry Baldwin described the work as “phase one” of the parking lot.
In regards to short term goals, the council simply wants to have the area accessible in time for the 43rd Aragon BBQ coming up on Friday, June 23 and Saturday, June 24 slated to end with a fire works show.
Now the council has set aside $7,050 for slating and basic maintenance to help with providing a parking area.
It won’t be until later that Aragon citizens can expect the new parking lot to have lines and other parking lot necessities.
Baldwin has applied for a $40,000 from the Polk County Commission to finish the work on the parking lot, which was put up for vote and tabled during the board of commissioner’s special called session earlier in the week on May 15.
Though tabled, the parking lot will get the finishing touches and a real layer of asphalt applied by the county alongside paving improvements that were sought out by requests from the cities of Cedartown and Rockmart.
Though initially denied, that work is being added to the county’s paving schedule following commissioners approving a 4- 1 veto override of Commission Chair Marshelle Thaxton’s previous decision to deny it despite a 4-1 vote approving.
In intergovernmental agreements between the cities and the county over paving, the county agrees to provide men and equipment for work if the cities will pay for the materials to provide Public Works-based paving.
Materials providing resurfacing of parking lots for Cedartown’s Bert Wood Youth and Athletics Complex and Rockmart’s Nathan Dean Sports Complex will come out of the county’s 2014 Special Purpose, Local Option Sales Tax infrastructure funds to the tune of $80,000.
If Aragon’s request is approved, it would bring the total to $120,000.
Should the funding request be denied, the parking lot will be constructed at a slower pace with new additions to the lot added whenever possible.
County funds for materials or not, the lot will be a convenient place for citizens to park as soon as slate is added, and those planning on attending the annual Aragon BBQ now have additional parking options and won’t have to circle to find open spots.
Aragon’s Community Center is also being shown love thanks to the Council approved purchases on a large list of necessities including the kitchen sink.
The city is using a total of $6,000 for a collection of sinks, faucets, counter tops, wall end and finishers, cabinets, and trims among others to spruce up the community center and Tom Pittman field.
An additional $ 1,629 is being used for a contrasting set of black and white stoves, fridges, and microwaves.
The white appliances are for use in the concession stand, the black appliances will be used in the community center.
Council members also previously approved funding for remodeling of the bathroom and kitchen floors at concession stand to make them easier to clean, along with new community gym flooring as well.
This large increase in recreation will be paid for via SPLOST funds and purchases are to be made at the local Home Depot.