By Andrew Walsh
awalsh@wbcowqel.com
The calendar may say winter is just around the corner but members of the New Washington council spent much of their meeting talking about the community swimming hole.
The New Washington Park will be receiving updates in the spring. The renovations to the pool house of been much discussed, but Paul Forster delivered a comprehensive detail of what could be expected initially. The west facing walls will receive new split faced block, the metal roof will be re-capped, new concrete floors will be installed, as well as new doors. In his dealings with John Cronau of Studer-Obringer, Forster discussed a series of phases for the construction, to help manage the finances of the project. The above mentioned details would constitute the first phase.
The construction portion of the project was quoted at $39,000, but the likelihood is that the project will come in under that. If this proves to be the case it may allow for work planned in later stages to go ahead early.
The electrical work will involve a great deal of streamlining. There are unnecessary lines that can be removed and the new system will be fitted into one breaker box. The plumbing will be completely overhauled, as that the fittings are cast iron and badly deteriorated. The new system will upgrade the materials to PVC and other plastic plumbing which will greatly add to their durability. The estimated cost of the electrical work was $5,200 and the plumbing $5,700.
The Park shelter just to the north of the pool will be receiving work as well. It is in need of a new roof and the support posts have suffered some rot. The roof will be sheet metal and the posts will be fitted with pre-cast concrete footers. This project has not yet been added to the budget but a bid of $3,720 from Brubaker Construction is being considered.
Council is in the process of organizing a meeting with the concerned parties in the tropical bird dispute. The plan is to have one representative from the group who disapproves of the birds meet with the birds’ owner, the mayor, the police chief, and Joe Blum as president of council to hammer out a solution that is agreeable to everyone involved.
“We’re neighbors here and we should be able to solve this,” Lash said.
Gert Durnwald, speaking on behalf of the residents of Jeffrey Drive, asked for a resolution by council to formally state their intentions toward blacktop paving for Jeffrey Drive in the new year. Durnwald imparted their belief that with no motion this would be pushed aside.
The motion passed but Lash added, “I would have thought the Council’s word would have been enough.”
In a third reading, the alley between Tiffin and Kunnert received final approval to be named Kraft Way, in honor of George Kraft a veteran of Korea.