Wednesday, July 06, 2011

88 TODAY.
NO RAIN YESTERDAY OR LAST NIGHT, EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS A 30%
CHANCE WE WOULD GET SOME.
NO RAIN IN FORECAST FOR REST OF WEEK.
WE NEED SOME.

THE MAQUOKETA TREE BOARD MET AND WILL BE RECOMMENDING TO THE FULL CITY COUNCIL THAT THE CITY SELL "LITTLE BEAR PARK" TO THE MAQUOKETA SCHOOL DISTRICT.
IT IS RIGHT NEXT TO BRIGG'S ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND NEEDS NEW
PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT, IF AND WHEN THE WOODEN PLAYGROUND IS TAKEN OUT BECAUSE OF AGE. IF THE SCHOOL OWNED IT, THEY COULD
BUILD A NEW PLAYGROUND USING LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX FUNDS. THE
TREE BOARD MEMBERS SAID THE SCHOOL IS THE PRIMARY USER OF THE
PARK NOW. THE CITY HAS NO FUNDS FOR A NEW PLAYGROUND, WITH AN
ESTIMATED COST OF $150,000. THE CITY WOULD SELL THE PARK FOR
$1. THE SCHOOL BOARD HAS NOT BEEN OFFICIALLY CONTACTED BY THE
BOARD OR CITY OFFICIALS ABOUT THE IDEA.
IF THIS PLAN WILL NOT HAPPEN, THE TREE BOARD MEMBERS SUGGEST
FUND-RAISING BE STARTED FOR A NEW STRUCTURE, WOOD OR OTHER
TYPE PLAYGROUND.
ALSO AT THE MEETING, CITY MANAGER BRIAN WAGNER SAID HE HAS
DRAWN UP A PROPOSAL FOR DEMOLITION OF ITEMS AT THE OLD POOL SITE.
THAT TOPIC, THE OLD POOL, WILL BE ON THE AGENDA AT A JOINT MEETING
BETWEEN THE TREE BOARD AND THE MUNICIPAL ENTERPRISES COMMITTEE.
HIS PROPOSAL CALLS FOR REMOVAL OF SELECTED STRUCTURES AT THE OLD
POOL SITE SUCH AS THE BATH HOUSE, CHEMICAL BUILDING, FENCING,
CONCESSION STAND BUILDING AND STORAGE SHED. THE POOL ITSELF
WOULD NOT BE DEMOLISHED. ONE PROPOSAL CALLS FOR FILLING IN MOST OF THE POOL AND THEN USING IT FOR ICE SKATING DURING THE WINTER.

THAT'S IT FOR TODAY.

DENNIS VOY