Teague’s Park Committee conducted their first meeting Thursday, December 13th at 6 p.m. at City Hall to begin the process of providing their recommendation as to the fate of the aging 8th Avenue Park Pavilion.
Serving on the committee are Mayor James Monks, Aldermen Jerry Ballew and Ron Rasbeary, City Administrator/Secretary Theresa Prasil, Public Works Director Jacob Cowling, Jessica Risken, Melvin Mims, Kelly Satterwhite, and Travis Miller.
The committee voted to appoint Kelly Satterwhite as chair, and Alderman Jerry Ballew as vice chair.
Committee members are tasked with researching available options, namely to demolish or repair the Pavilion, and making their recommendations to the Council for consideration.
Following a unanimous vote, the committee, represented by Satterwhite, will present their requests during the Council meeting Monday, December 17th.
The committee will recommend that the Council amend their budget to obtain a structural study from the city’s engineering firm TRC Engineers, Inc.
To date, no certified engineer’s study of the Pavilion and surrounding area has been completed. According to Prasil, the official structural study can be obtained from TRC Engineers for $5,500.
The committee will also request that the Council allow City Administrator Theresa Prasil to solicit bids from at least two contractors to accompany the engineer’s report, as well as an extension on the tabled item regarding the Pavilion, which is set to return to the Council’s agenda in January 2019, pending the committee’s final recommendation.
Prasil reminded the committee that no matter what option they ultimately recommend to the Council, the structure and surrounding area will have to be brought up to current standards of compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which would require the addition of ramps and wheelchair accessible features.
In the meantime, the committee plans to visit the Pavilion to inspect it for themselves while they wait for more information from engineers and contractors.
Another meeting of the committee will be scheduled once the requested reports are received.
The “Times” will continue to report on the committee as they move forward with their recommendations.
