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SIDNEY - Sidney Town Council approved the proposed park concept at their meeting Monday, June 8.
Allie Dougherty presented the park concept on behalf of HWC Engineering. She described the illustrated version of the concept as “the finalized ‘pretty’ version of the plan they had been working with the (Sidney Park) Steering Committee.”
The park will have a walking path, basketball court and playground. Sidney Town Council member Sharon Rancourt asked how long the walking path was going to be. Dougherty said she was not certain, but believed it was either one-third or one-quarter of a mile.
Dougherty also presented two possible budgets for the park based on this concept. One had a higher total cost due to different finishes on the basketball court and walking path, among other things. Dougherty and Kosciusko County Community Coordinator Amy Roe used Atwood's recent park project as an example of how the final budget could be much lower due to donated materials and volunteer labor.
The park concept was approved by Rancourt and Town Council member Rebecca Adams. Sidney Town Council President Gavin Parrett was absent.
This approved park concept will be used to apply for a Community Amenities Program grant through the Orthopedic Industry Retention Initiative.
In other business:
• Tim Woodward, with the sewer department, presented paperwork to the council with information about an engineering study on the wastewater plant and a grant through Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs. The council voted to allow Woodward to work with Zach Dripps from the Michiana Area Council of Governments to pursue this grant.
• The council voted to allow Phillip’s Tree Service to handle problem trees around town with a budget up to $1,500.
• The council reviewed and signed the Kosciusko County Hazard Mitigation Plan.
• Roe said she is helping with the K21 Health Foundation and Norfolk Southern grants. Additionally, Roe facilitated a donation from Zimmer Biomet to the Kosciusko County Community Foundation, with the intention for the funds to go towards projects in Claypool and Sidney.
• Amazing Grace Church offered use of the gravel portion of their parking lot as parking for the future town park in exchange for the town paying half of the projected maintenance costs every year, costing approximately $400. It was determined to be too early in the process to approve this type of agreement, but they appreciated the church’s willingness to work with them.
