By Lee Weyhrich, Staff Writer
PINSON — Once again a Pinson City Council meeting revolved primarily around the parks.
By far the biggest line item on this month’s bill schedule was for the new storage and maintenance building at Pinson Youth Sports Complex at a cost of $40,350.
Until now there has not been a secure place to store materials and equipment for use at the park.
The opening of the new garage could not have come at a better time, as the city will soon acquire two gently used mowers in need of a home.
Several months ago the Council helped fund the purchase of a new mower for the high school. The city then took possession of the old mower, with the intention of repairing it and using it to maintain the PYSC fields. Golf Carts Unlimited, the company tasked with the refurbishment, informed the mayor that they had recently acquired two Toro brand reel mowers in good condition that could be purchased for roughly the price of repairing the old mower.
The council voted unanimously to purchase the two newer mowers.
Game Day Sports is currently maintaining the fields at the complex and has been providing their own equipment, part of the contract involves them teaching city employees how to improve how they maintain other properties, including the new Bicentennial Park. The new mowers can not only be used by Game Day, but Game Day can also teach city employees how to use and maintain the equipment.
The six-month trial-basis contract was set to expire soon. Councilman Joe Cochran made a motion to extend the contract with Game Day Sports for field maintenance, which was approved unanimously.
He also made a motion to purchase more trashcans for the PYSC complex at a total cost of roughly $1,125.
Of course PYSC is not the only city park requiring attention. Bicentennial Park is still a major project for the Council.
While most items concerning the operation and overall look of the park have been relatively uncontroversial among council members, a wooded stretch of trail has been the topic of considerable argument.