The construction of new playground equipment at Caboose Park "has already started and is well underway," according to Mayor Michael Dickey.
Speaking at the Tuesday night council meeting, Dickey was referencing a question if the work could be halted until a better location found.
New council member Vernon Vanmeter said he was concerned about the playground being sited at a busy intersection. He also expressed concern about amenities including water fountain and rest rooms as well as security and playground hours of operation.
Jennifer Munholland said the skate park had been in operation for 20 years and the site chosen because of higher visibility to help prevent vandalism. She pointed out handicapped swings at McCutcheon Park had been vandalized within hours of those being installed. "We throught it would be safer there."
A four-foot vinyl coated fence is to be built around the playground with a gate on the south side for children to use and another larger gate to be installed to allow maintenance equipment to enter.
Discussion included construction of a fence between the park and the rail road tracks to force children to walk around the park and down the sidewalks.
There was no action taken allowing the construction to continue.
A resolution approving the Muscogeee (Creek) Nation to set meters and provide water service to 11 new homes to be built on Tutt Street was passed.
Approval was given for The Shack 2.0 to host a volleyball tournament June 3. No details about the tournament were given.
The council approved spending $28,500 to resurface the four tennis courts on West Main. Seven years ago the courts were completely redone and now face resurfacing due to age and use.
Henryetta's Tennis Association came to the council asking for $18,000.
Munholland pointed out the association maintains the courts with minimal city involvement. Speaking to the association, she said there has been a lot of work with the organization rarely making requests for funding.
Association spokesman James McCullough said Henryetta has been selected for two regional tournaments in the next two weeks. That is expected to bring in a number of people who will spend money in the town, he pointed out.
Munholland said she wanted to spend the full amount because of the additional business that the tennis courts bring to town.
That brought up more comments about building two more tennis courts.
McCullough said there are two courts on the Lake Road but they would have to be completely redone to make them usable. He also said there are plans eventually to build two at the high school.
Jana Duggan asked about building courts near the senior citizens center.
"We have people who are chalking the current courts for pickleball," he said. "If we had the opportunity to do something either on the Lake Road or behind the senior citizens center lets push them as pickle ball courts."|
He brought up the plans to hold a pickle ball tournament by the Chamber of Commerce in May.
"Pickleball is growing in interest and the association would like to help push that as a secondary thing."
There is a difference in size between pickleball and tennis court dimensions. In recent weeks some one has taken chalk and remarked the tennis courts on Main Street to make them pickle ball sized. "They have been going with chalk and they have been scraping it," he said.
A proposal to close part of East Broadway by Jiffy Mart was tabled because land owners are unsure where the property lines are.
Jiffy Mart owner Jimmy Williams said he has had a request to put In a dog park for customers who are getting their electric vehicles charged.
The proposal would close down the road to the general public but would not prevent access to private property.
Another property issue, annexation of some land west of Dewey Bartlett was tabled. The annexation was requested by Ratial Patel for development. The legal notice that was required before annexation would be possible was not published forcing the item to be tabled.