By Crystal McGough
CLAY — Jane Anderton, of Clay, attended the Clay City Council meeting on Tuesday, April 27, 2021, where she told the council of her desire to form a community volunteer group called “Caretakers of Cosby Lake.”
“What I would like for us to do is offer opportunities for community volunteers to come out to Cosby and work on the eradication of all of the invasive species that are out there,” she said. “Mainly that devil, privet, some Mimosa, some of those kind of things.”
Anderton said that she would also like to provide opportunities to plant native species around the trails at Cosby Lake.
“Especially in the woodlands,” she said. “There are all kinds of different flowers and things that would benefit our beneficial insects out there. Also, a couple of years ago some Boy Scouts build the benches and put flower beds on either side of them, and they’ve never been filled. So, that would be something that I would like for community volunteers to be able to do.”
Additionally, Anderton said that she would like to liaison with the various volunteer groups that focus on trash cleanup at Cosby Lake Park and coordinate their efforts.
Anyone interested in joining the “Caretakers of Cosby Lake” group can contact Anderton through the Clay Garden Swap Facebook page.
The city council unanimously passed a motion adopting the new park and building rental rules for the city of Clay. Formerly, each park and rental facility in the city had a separate set of rules and the council discussed a first reading of a resolution to establish the rules in a single document, with changes, at the April 13 council meeting. With the motion passing, the council plans to revisit it in the form of a resolution at the next city council meeting on May 11.
“At the next meeting we will rescind the old resolutions and put those (new rules) in the form of a resolution,” City Manager Ronnie Dixon said.
One of the most significant changes in the park rules is that Cosby Lake will become a catch-and-release lake, with the exception of catfish and bass 16 inches and longer.
The new rules also establish tournament rental pricing for the pickleball and tennis facility. The facility will be available to rent for tournaments at the cost of $500/day with a $150 deposit. There will also be a $5 fee per car for parking during tournaments at the pickleball facility.
The disc golf course will also be available to rent for tournaments for $500/day, plus a $150 deposit.
The splash pad, which will open Memorial Day weekend, will cost $2 for residents and $5 for nonresidents with a 4-hour limit. The picnic tables at the splash pad can be rented for two hours at a cost of $50 for residents and $100 for nonresidents, with a $50 deposit.
Rental prices for the Community Center and Cosby Lake house stayed the same and are as follows:
Clay Community Center – $200 for residents and $400 for nonresidents, with a $150 deposit
Cosby Lake house – $150 for residents and $300 for nonresidents, with a $150 deposit
All parties with more than 50 people will be required to have one sheriff’s deputy per 50 people, at the cost of $35/deputy per hour. The city will assign and reserve all deputies.
During council reports, Councilor Becky Johnson said that the Clay Senior Center will open to all previous members — except those in assisted living or nursing facilities — starting Monday, May 3. Members will have to provide their own transportation.
Councilor Dennis Locke announced this month’s $500 school grant winners:
- Clay Elementary — Assistant Principal Allison Walker
- Bryant Elementary — Reading & Language Arts teacher Many Duckett
- CCMS — Principal Jason Wilson
- CCHS — Principal Michael Lee
The council also unanimously approved Resolution 2021-08, authorizing the elimination of nuisances at 797 Chestnut Drive and 5239 Baggett Drive.
The next meeting of the Clay City Council will be Tuesday, May 11, 2021, at Clay City Hall beginning at 6 p.m.