CENTRE CITY COUNCIL TAKES ANOTHER STEP TO BUILDING NEW CITY HALL
Mayor Mark Mansfield ask the City Council to consider employing the services of Tom McElrath Architect for the purpose of planning and drafting plans for a new City Hall to be constructed on the site of the Old Centre Middle School on East Main Street. The City has applied for a grant through ADECA for the demolition of the structure now on the site.
During the planning session prior to the Council Meeting, Building Inspector Raymond Matthews told the Council there are issues with the construction of the new tennis courts. He said the current site has a lot of debris including a burn pit found while removing the dirt which is not of compaction quality needed. He said they have dug down 9 feet in one spot without finding a good base to build on. Matthews told the Council overall he expects about a three feet dig down and refill and a considerable extra cost. He said he would try to have a cost estimate for the Council at the next meeting. The City has already experienced an extra cost of construction of the new Aquatic Center of more than a hundred thousand dollars.
The Council approved a $5000 sponsorship of the First Hot Air Jubilee Festival to be held the first weekend of April 2023 with Weiss Lake Events. Dee Miller explained in order to get 15 hot air balloons scheduled for the event, they had to act now. Miller told the council the sponsors of the balloons will get to ride across the lake in a balloon, weather permitting, the day of the event. The Council also gave Miller and Weiss Lake Events permission to use the City’s Softball Complex for the event. They also approved $1500 for Miller to Emcee and Provide Music for the Fall Festival the first Saturday in October.
A Diversified Inspections of the Centre Fire Department Ladder Truck in the amount of $762.50 was approved in addition to $3700 for the removal of trees in the City Park from Johnson Tree Service of Centre.
The next meeting of the Centre City Council is scheduled for September 13th with planning session at 4pm and Council Meeting at 5pm.