Plans to give Dorie Miller Park a facelift were announced at the Tuesday night Lewisburg city council meeting. Funds totaling $73,500 for the first phase of the project were approved at the meeting. Phase one will include the removal of the shelter situated at the intersection of Maple Street and Feamster Road, with the parking area also removed. Community members have complained for years that the proximity of the shelter and the narrow parking area to the roadway presented a potential safety hazard to children. A new shelter situated near the main parking area will be constructed to replace it. The remaining shelter will be remodeled with a restroom installed. The plans include a new access road and asphalt parking lot, all to be completed by late spring 2017.
The main parking lot will be enlarged in phase two, with the installation of an ADA accessible restroom in the center of the park, scheduled for late 2017. A new kids’ play park is on the agenda for phase three, anticipated for 2018.
In addition, a grant was awarded to the parks commission on behalf of Governor Earl Ray Tomblin and the National Parks Service in the amount of $60,000, and is earmarked for outdoor lighting for both of the city’s ball fields at Hollowell and Dorie Miller parks.
In other business:
~ Mayor John Manchester and council agreed to offer “generalized support” for the Greenbrier East High School marching band in finding a way to contribute toward the purchase of new uniforms. Tammy Rhodes, president of the Greenbrier East Music Boosters, at the meeting asked for an urgent commitment from the council because it takes six months to construct the much needed 100 uniforms. Each one costs $500, she said. Without committing to a specific dollar amount, the mayor and council identified a revenue resource, which, with proper guidelines and parameters, could be used as a support source for this project, and for others, as well.
~ Lewisburg’s top recycler for 2016, John Richardson, was honored for his efforts with an award from the mayor. The award is given out annually by the city’s recycle collectors. They keep track of who recycles the most.
~ The Lewisburg Christmas parade will be held on December 3, at 1 p.m.
~ The city is still deliberating between candidates for the permanent position of fire chief. Currently, Matt Carver is acting as interim fire chief.
~ Five ordinances were read by Shannon Beatty, city recorder, three of which were approved on the second reading.