By Sarah Richardson
The Lewisburg City Council convened on Tuesday, May 20, to discuss a new fee relating to usage of city parks, review Arts and Humanity funding requests, and more during its regular monthly session, held at the Paul R. Cooley Council Chambers at City Hall.
Mayor Beverly White called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. and began with a series of official proclamations recognizing National Police Week and Peace Officers Memorial Day, as well as Youth Week in conjunction with the Lewisburg Elks Club. Council also celebrated local winners of the Elks Lodge Essay Contest for their writing achievements.
Councilmember Sarah Elkins reports that the Parks Commission met earlier this month, and they discussed a potential new fee for non-residents holding benefit events on park land. “We are seeing an increase in interest by people who don’t live in Lewisburg to have fundraisers of different sorts on park property,” said Elkins. “I think this interest is, in large part, because we charge far less than other municipalities for the rental of our space.”
She explained that they continue to not use the parks to make money for the City, but noted that when people from “outside the area” would like to utilize a city park for fundraising activities, they are considering charging a fee. After considering the extra labor for City employees, the Parks Commission settled on a $150/day fee for parks usage for benefits held for non-residents. The fee was approved by Council, and the fee will be applied on a case-by-case basis as applications are submitted.
Councilmember Elkins also reminded Council that dogs are continuing to cause issues in parks, with owners not following City leash laws and some even “getting belligerent” toward City employees when being asked to leash them. A lack of cleaning up after the dogs also continues to be an issue.
“We will not tolerate people being disrespectful towards our employees,” Mayor White stated. “That’s their job, to make sure the parks are safe and clean, and citizens need to make sure they are doing their part, as well.”
In other news, an Arts and Humanities funding request in support of Taste of Our Towns (TOOT) was approved for $5,000, with Councilmember John Little noting that the City approved another $5,000 request for Carnegie in the fall of last year, bringing the total for the fiscal year to $10,000. Councilmember Little explained that the Arts and Humanities budget is only $25,000 each year, meaning 40 percent of the budget has now been allotted to Carnegie Hall’s events. “It feels like a lot, to me, for one organization,” said Little.
After approving contract renewals with Mountaineer Computer Systems and Accountant Imre Pentek, they approved three change orders for the Water Treatment Plant Improvement Project totaling $71,655.50.
“These things seem like a massive amount of money, but I think we are very well-prepared for possible overruns and change orders,” said Councilmember Little of the change order approvals.
Next, street paving bids were reviewed by Council. The current schedule of street paving is as follows: Court Street from Route 60 to Foster Street, Foster Street to Route 219, and Court Street from Second Avenue to Third Avenue. A bid made by Greenbrier Excavating and Paving to not exceed the budgeted amount of $150,000. Councilmember Franklin Johnson said that they are hoping to use the $150,000 “to pave as far as we can.”
In other news:
~A Water Plant Operator Contract between the City and James C. Lawson was unanimously approved.
~It was recommended to transfer $15,000 in settlement funds from Pfizer, Inc. and Ranbaxy, Inc. to the Drug Task Force’s account.
~Chapman Technical was selected to act as the engineer for the Sidewalk Grant Project. Finally, the Finance Committee recommended the selection of Jim’s Drive In as the caterer for the employee picnic to be held this July at Dorie Miller Park.
~A citizen approached Council to ask them to be aware of a vacant lot that could be a danger for neighboring residents on Lee Street. She reports that the homeowners tore the house down months ago with intent to rebuild, but those plans have stalled, and there is now a vacant lot with a hole where the house used to be. Recently someone did come out to brush hog the property as it was too high to mow. She is concerned about an “open cistern” on the property marked only by a flag with no fencing around it. Mayor White responded that the City is aware of the condition of the lot, and they are in touch with the property owners, and “work is being done to remedy that situation.”
