By Sarah Richardson
At the last meeting of the Lewisburg City Council, councilmembers laid the levy, discussed a new Pickleball Summer Youth Program, approved several pay requests, and addressed other agenda items.
Councilmember Sarah Elkins reports that the Parks Commission held their first meeting of 2024, and that there will be a new Pickleball Summer Youth Program at Hollowell Park on Thursdays from 2 to 4 p.m. in the months of June and July. It’s anticipated that only two of the pickleball courts will be reserved for this program. Sports league leaders attended the Parks meeting to discuss the upcoming seasons and present various requests to the Commissioners.
“This meeting is always good one where leaders of the different leagues come and visit us,” Elkins said. Representatives with the softball league reported that 400 girls between the ages of four and 18 will be participating in softball this summer. There are also roughly 350-400 players in the Little League teams, with a large chunk of players being Lewisburg residents. More batting cages and a sound system were requested, along with several other items, which will be discussed further at a later time.
Elkins said that they wish to develop a five and a 10 year plan for the parks system, “which works out wonderfully since we have a comprehensive plan coming up.” She plans to record wishlist requests in these plans so they don’t get lost from year to year with potential changes to city administration and Parks Committee members.
City Manager Misty Hill noted that there does need to be a strong plan in place for the parks properties, especially considering the new land on Stonehouse Road that will be used in part for parks and public works property, adjacent to the water plant. “From what I gathered, the Parks Commissioners would like to work with Planning and Zoning Commission as we develop this comprehensive plan to make sure what we are developing in that plan is what the Parks Commission is wanting to see,” said Hill.
In other news, Resolution 546: Stormwater Assessment and Management Study in the amount of $13,950 was read and approved, along with Resolution 547: Water System Improvement Project Pay Request 23 in the amount of $1,572,383.45. A pay request for the Dogwood Heights Stormwater Project in the amount of $121,050 was approved, along with Pay Requests 12 and 13 to The Thrasher Group for Fire Station One in the amount of $133,875.
City Manager Hill announced the following levy rates: Regular current levy rates – Class I .12.5/$100 valuation, Class II .25.000/$100 valuation and Class IV .50.000/$100 valuation. Excess current levy rates – Class I .6.25/$100 valuation, Class II .12.500 /$100 valuation and Class IV .25.000/$100 valuation. There were no public comments on the layout of the levy, which was then passed unanimously.