Pierceton Council Hears More On New Park Board
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Tim [email protected]
At a May 14 meeting, the council discussed the possibility of creating the new board to oversee a new skate park. Monday, Walmer shared his research on the legal hurdles to be cleared before a new park board can be created.[[In-content Ad]]The town currently has a joint park board with Washington Township. The board was established to oversee the Pierceton Washington Township Park on the west side of town. Walmer said the ordinance to create the joint board doesn't give it the power to oversee other properties, and the skate park is planned for a location on the northeast side of town.
"Also, Washington Township may not want to contribute financially or otherwise to another park," Walmer said.
Walmer said one solution may be to create a town park board that would continue to meet with Washington Township park board members on the upkeep of the Pierceton Washington Township Park, but would independently oversee the new skate park. Walmer said the law does not specifically allow a town and a township to oversee a park with two cooperative boards, but he found at least two laws allow for cooperative property management between local government entities.
Council members said they plan to discuss the matter further at their next meeting.
A new church building may help bring more parking space at the Pierceton Washington Township Park.
Glenn Hall, pastor of Harvest Community Ministries, told the council his church is considering buying property just south of the community park to build a new church building. Hall asked the council if the new facility could be hooked into the town's water and sewer utilities.
"That will be a determining factor for us," Hall told the council. "If we can't, we will have to move farther out of town."
Council President Jerry Kreger said the property lies outside city limits and would have to be annexed into the town before the new church could be hooked into town utilities. Kreger said though the town would probably not gain financially through taxes or utility fees from the church, a shared parking lot could be beneficial.
"We don't have anything financial to gain, we have you guys to lose," said Kreger. "If the park could gain some parking out there, that would be phenomenal."
Hall said he will bring sketches of the proposed construction to a later council meeting. He said he feels an agreement can be reached.
"We really believe in the family environment here and we want to contribute to that," Hall said. "We're not concerned with boundary lines, we're concerned with staying in the community."
In other news:
n The council voted to post stop signs creating a three-way stop at the intersection of 7th and Walnut streets. Ed Sherrill lives on the corner of 7th and Elm streets. Sherrill told the council the new signs are needed to slow traffic in the area.
"They start dragging at Catholic Street and, by Walnut, they're hitting 60 (mph)," said Sherrill.
n Pierceton Days organizer Kim Rose told the council preparations are almost ready for the festival in early August. Rose said this year's festival will mark the return of Miss Pierceton. Rose told the board she is looking for the last Miss Pierceton, crowned more than 20 years ago.
"I'd like to have her crown the new Miss Pierceton this year," Rose said.
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At a May 14 meeting, the council discussed the possibility of creating the new board to oversee a new skate park. Monday, Walmer shared his research on the legal hurdles to be cleared before a new park board can be created.[[In-content Ad]]The town currently has a joint park board with Washington Township. The board was established to oversee the Pierceton Washington Township Park on the west side of town. Walmer said the ordinance to create the joint board doesn't give it the power to oversee other properties, and the skate park is planned for a location on the northeast side of town.
"Also, Washington Township may not want to contribute financially or otherwise to another park," Walmer said.
Walmer said one solution may be to create a town park board that would continue to meet with Washington Township park board members on the upkeep of the Pierceton Washington Township Park, but would independently oversee the new skate park. Walmer said the law does not specifically allow a town and a township to oversee a park with two cooperative boards, but he found at least two laws allow for cooperative property management between local government entities.
Council members said they plan to discuss the matter further at their next meeting.
A new church building may help bring more parking space at the Pierceton Washington Township Park.
Glenn Hall, pastor of Harvest Community Ministries, told the council his church is considering buying property just south of the community park to build a new church building. Hall asked the council if the new facility could be hooked into the town's water and sewer utilities.
"That will be a determining factor for us," Hall told the council. "If we can't, we will have to move farther out of town."
Council President Jerry Kreger said the property lies outside city limits and would have to be annexed into the town before the new church could be hooked into town utilities. Kreger said though the town would probably not gain financially through taxes or utility fees from the church, a shared parking lot could be beneficial.
"We don't have anything financial to gain, we have you guys to lose," said Kreger. "If the park could gain some parking out there, that would be phenomenal."
Hall said he will bring sketches of the proposed construction to a later council meeting. He said he feels an agreement can be reached.
"We really believe in the family environment here and we want to contribute to that," Hall said. "We're not concerned with boundary lines, we're concerned with staying in the community."
In other news:
n The council voted to post stop signs creating a three-way stop at the intersection of 7th and Walnut streets. Ed Sherrill lives on the corner of 7th and Elm streets. Sherrill told the council the new signs are needed to slow traffic in the area.
"They start dragging at Catholic Street and, by Walnut, they're hitting 60 (mph)," said Sherrill.
n Pierceton Days organizer Kim Rose told the council preparations are almost ready for the festival in early August. Rose said this year's festival will mark the return of Miss Pierceton. Rose told the board she is looking for the last Miss Pierceton, crowned more than 20 years ago.
"I'd like to have her crown the new Miss Pierceton this year," Rose said.
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