SILVER LAKE - After much discussion the past few months on a town park in Silver Lake, the town council decided Tuesday to hold off on plans due to negative feedback from a couple of townspeople at the meeting.

Last month, the council discussed details for the park's design, including a gazebo, park benches, a water fountain and a brick sidewalk.

Town Marshal Craig Hollopeter said last month plans for the park are proceeding.

"We are open for ideas," he said last month. Hollopeter and council members emphasized that this was to be the "town park" and they would like input from residents before proceeding with the plans.

Also discussed at last month's meeting was the selling of 4-by-8-inch and 8-by-8-inch bricks to the public to raise money for construction of the new park. The bricks would be engraved with whatever the buyer chooses and placed in the park.

Council members and Hollopeter discussed reasonable prices with audience members before deciding to sell the smaller bricks for $75 each and the larger bricks for $125 each.

Council members also decided on dimensions for the water fountain to be installed in the park. Circumference will be 10 feet and depth will be approximately 18 inches.

The gazebo will be placed off to the side of the park and measure 12-by-24 feet.

With all this business taking place last month - with no opposition - council members were a little surprised Tuesday when a couple of audience members said they've talked to quite a few residents who are not in favor of the town park.

"I guess I thought it was a done deal," Hollopeter said Tuesday. "I didn't know it was up for debate."

"I didn't either," town council president Brenda Wadkins said. "I thought it would be a good asset to the town."

Councilman Gail Owens also said he believed the park would be the best option to occupy the old Marathon Station lot.

One audience member said she spoke to two business owners in Silver Lake who were not in favor of the park. She also said a petition has been mentioned by residents.

"If it looks like the majority of the people don't want it, it would be selfish of us to go ahead and do it," Wadkins said.

Councilmen tabled any further plans for the park until May's town council meeting.

"We'll give you until next meeting to convince us that we don't want a park," Wadkins said. "A final decision will be made at the next meeting."

In other business:

• The council denied a request to close South Street.

"Personally, I'm not in favor of closing any streets," Wadkins said. "I think we (would be) creating something that could cause us problems. We're setting a precedence for closing streets. That's a scary thing."

Wadkins said the council's plan is to help the town grow, not cut off part of the town by closing streets.

• Owens thanked Par-Kan Co., Silver Lake, for donating four used computers to the town, one to the fire department and one to the Little League.

• Tabled, for the second time, a request from DeLaughter-McKee Mortuary, Silver Lake, to donate benches to the town.

"They want to put some benches uptown," Wadkins said last month. "They would have advertisements on them."

Clerk-treasurer Teresa Howell said they would be at no cost to the town.

Hollopeter said he checked with Wabash Valley, Silver Lake, to see if they had a problem with the donation since they already have two benches downtown. He said he is still waiting to hear back from them.

Council members said Wabash Valley has been good to the town and decided to hold off on a decision until they respond.

• Town superintendent Phil Shalley told council members he is working on finding someone to repaint the water tower and re-coat the inside. He said the tower was last recoated in 1995. Re-painting the tower has been even longer, he said.

• May 12 was set as Silver Lake's cleanup day. Council members said everthing to be picked up should be out by May 11. Shalley said tires, paint cans or "anything with hazardous materials" will not be picked up. Residents are asked to limit their items to be picked up to a 6-foot- by-6-foot area.

• Shalley reported that line and fire hydrants will be flushed next week.

"So don't wash anything white," he said.

Shalley said work will more than likely begin Monday and should be completed in a couple of days.

• The EMS and fire department will have a fund-raiser for the Shelton family April 28 from 3 to 8 p.m. The chili and vegetable soup supper will be at the conservation building and all proceeds will go to the Shelton family.

The Silver Lake Town Council members are: president Brenda Wadkins, Gail Owens and Donna McCune. [[In-content Ad]]