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SYRACUSE - At its November meeting, the Syracuse Park Board plans to approve the plans and specifications for Lakeside Community Center.
Bid packages and documents for contractors will be available approximately the first week of November. Bid opening is planned for Dec. 11 at 2 p.m.
Monday, the board approved an updated contract with Prince Alexander architects. The contract is similar to past contracts approved and moves the project to phase three.
Stephen Alexander, architect, said the size of the community center will be approximately 16,500 square feet. The total goal in fund-raising is $2.2 million. Alexander said if they don't reach their goal, alternatives are planned that can be deleted or added as necessary.
Parking needs of the center were discussed and Alexander showed the board maps of the center's topography, layout, fire code compliance requirements, ADA compliance requirements and other maps.
Steel vs. shingle roofing and wood vs. steel framing were discussed also.
"The thing is," said Alexander, "I don't think you can say unequivocally one is better than the other."
He said it would be easier to get better prices with local contractors if they go with wood. The first 10 feet of the building will be brick and block.
Alexander asked park superintendent Mike Hixenbaugh to talk to the utility companies and get information on where the utility lines are buried.
In other business, the Syracuse park board:
• Approved claims, except for a claim from Reese Recreation for $315 for additional Fun-Timber border for Ward Park.
"I don't think they did the job they should have done," said board adviser Donna Workman. She suggested they hold the final payment until everything at the park meets their satisfaction.
The slide at the park is not the proper length.
Board president Bill Wight said they need to evaluate at a future park board meeting how Ward Park was completed. He said he was impressed with how Ward Park looks, but there are items that probably should be done differently next time.
• Hixenbaugh said engineers inspected the Scout Cabin at Crosson Mill Park and the report is due to the engineer by the end of the week. He also said the Rotary Club indicated they would have their own engineer look at the cabin, but he hasn't heard anything about it.
• Hixenbaugh said he is leaving today for the National Recreation and Park Association, in Phoenix, Ariz., for approximately five days.
"I'm just real excited to go," he said. "I can't tell you how much this means to me to go."
Approximately 10,000 people are expected to be in attendance, he said.
• Workman said she received a call from a local resident asking when the wall at Ward Park was going to be made safer as it is "dangerous."
The wall meets safety codes, Hixenbaugh said, but they could put some shrubbery in front of it.
It's up to parents to supervise their children, said board member Lynn Allegret. Aesthetically, she said, the wall looks nice.
• Weed and mole control were discussed for the various parks. Jerry Riffle, board member, said the best way to get rid of moles is trapping, but they probably also don't want to have to deal with children playing with the traps.
Allegret said chemicals don't work well.
"We don't encourage putting down insecticide for mole control. It doesn't work," said Riffle. He suggested the use of pre-emergence spray in the spring and fall, but they have to be careful not to get it in the water. He also suggested Hixenbaugh should call the president of the Indiana Lawn Care Association for information.
Board member Nancy Duehmig said she is not in favor of putting too much money into aesthetics for Hoy's Beach. She said the beach has too much vandalism and little or no parental supervision of children.
"It's just a constant problem every year," she said. She suggested the park board have its new five-year master plan in place before anything is done with Hoy's Beach.
The board agreed not to do anything with Hoy's Beach until the master plan is completed.
Members of the Syracuse Park Board are president Bill Wight, vice president Lynn Allegret, secretary Ginny Lambright, Nancy Duehmig, Jerry Riffle and adviser Donna Workman. They meet at 7 p.m. in the Syracuse town hall on the second Monday of every month.
