Council moves splash pad project forward
A second splash pad in Wapakoneta?
Wapakoneta City Council members put in motion a resolution allowing the city to accept a Community Recreation/conservation Project Pass Through Grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, which at $73,500 would almost match the $75,000 received in late 2020 from the state of Ohio’s capital spending plan for the installation of a
splash pad in Veterans Memorial Park.
The resolution was passed as an emergency measure Monday;
Safety Service Director Michael Brillhart said the timing led to the
emergency request to meet Senate Bill 310 fiscal year funding appropriations guidelines.
Initial estimates for construction of a splash pad came in at
$300,000, noted Jack Hayzlett, director of the recreation department. Brillhart said with the two grants in place, city officials can
budget for the project more appropriately for 2023.
The Wapakoneta Family YMCA opened a splash pad during the
summer of 2022. The spacethemed facility was part of the Y’s
expansion project that grew the organization’s footprint, and welcomed Mercy Health/st. Rita’s
and the Council for Rural Services (Head Start) to the campus.
Also passed as an emergency measure was an ordinance allowing participation in the Ohio Market Access Program. Brillhart
explained AMP Ohio issued notes on behalf of the city in 2018 for upgrading the city’s electric lines; those notes are about to mature. The legislation allows the city to renew the notes, in the amount of
$11.9 million; participation on the
market access program should allow the city to obtain more favorable interest rates.
Councilor Ross Kentner told his fellow lawmakers he had seen a neighboring
community use a Facebook post to remind residents there is an ordinance in place that prohibits grass clippings from being
deposited in the street. Kantner thought that might be a good idea for the city’s Facebook page, which led to a question regarding the city’s former newsletter.
“Do we still have the Informer?” Councilman Chad Dunlap asked.
Brandon Miller said the city had migrated to Facebook to communicate with citizens.
Dunlap noted not all residents have Facebook accounts and encourage officials to look at reviving the newsletter, to help in the communication effort.
Also on Monday, three ordinances were adopted after a third reading:
* The purchase of a aerial tower truck for the electric department
* Authorization to regulate local traffic; and
* Establishing a no parking zone downtown on Auglaize Street in front of the Gold Star Memorial
Councilors heard the first reading of an ordinance to name the city owned plaza Legacy Parkplatz. Its address has been established as 101 Perry Street.
Two committee’s scheduled meetings for later this week: Health and Safety on Thursday at 2 p.m., to discuss new fireworks legislation with both the police and fire chiefs; and Parks on Friday at 1:45 p.m.
Both will meet in the conference room in the city building.
An executive session called to consider both an application for economic development assistance and the purchase of property; Wapakoneta City Council’s Monday meeting was rather routine. No action was taken following the return to open session.
City council meets again May 16 at 7:30 p.m. in council chambers in city hall.