Master parks plan presented

Mayor David Shane, City Attorney Steve Mann, Commissioner Zack Lopeman and Commissioner Manny Hernandez at Tuesday's Chenoa City Council meeting.

A master plan for Chenoa parks was presented to members of the Chenoa City Council Tuesday evening.

Nancy Todd appeared on behalf of a steering committee comprised of city employees, city council representatives, members of the Chenoa Revitalization Committee and Friends of the Trail. They worked with Farnsworth to develop the plan for the main city park and Redbird Park.

“This was a contract executed by the city,” explained Todd.

An online public survey was conducted in November to get responses from residents. All of this is needed for the next step of looking at future grant applications.

Todd said there is a concrete pad to the north of the tennis courts that could have picnic tables and benches. Also, a new playground could be added to the current one.

At Redbird Park, plans call for moving the current playground to the back area along with additional signage and multi-use courts for basketball and tennis. New parking would be installed along with an accessible walking path around the outside of the park.

“This plan is going to be used for a grant,” said Commissioner Manny Hernandez.

“I think we need to think about how we want to move forward with this information to apply for what is called an OSLAD grant which is a state grant that offers up to $600,000 for the work,” noted Todd.

Commissioner Spencer Shipley said he would need clarification that the city is going to keep the pool open before approving the grant for Redbird Park which is near the swimming pool.

“If we get this approved and get $600,000 for Redbird Park, I would like to know,” he said.

Todd reported that Dwight received the grant last year and it can fund many park improvements.

No action was taken on the master plan since the council members saw it for the first time during the meeting. More discussion will take place and it will be on the next meeting agenda.

“Obviously, we need some more discussion,” stated Mayor David Shane.

The mayor suggested finding out what needs to be done to the pool so the city is ready for the next year. They are working on getting a permit approved by the state, switching from gas chlorine to a liquid and becoming ADA compliant in the locker rooms.

Also at Tuesday’s meeting, Sarah Michaels reminded the group about the upcoming Route 66 Red Carpet Corridor Festival set for May 3-4 in towns up and down the Mother Road, including Chenoa.

Local festivities will be at Redbird Park and Michaels hopes the park can get mowed May 2 since 15 vendors are coming. They will use electricity in the picnic shelter.

“It’s a free event,” said Michaels. “We’ve got some Burma-Shave signs that the Gridley Telephone Museum is sponsoring.”

A recommendation from the Silliman Trust Advisory Board was approved to use funds toward the Friends of the Trail Route 66 project. The Friends group is putting in 60 new trees and a shelter at Morehead and 66 along with a map kiosk and bike repair.

Mayor Shane said they asked for $35,000 but this can be paid over two years so the city approved using up to $17,500 of the trust fund for the project.

“The township is also giving money to help the trust,” added Hernandez.

The council approved an ordinance rezoning certain real estate in Scott, Humphrey & Pickett’s Subdivision.

Michaels reported on the recent meeting of the Chenoa Economic Development Commission where Ashley Butler requested TIF façade funding, which is different than normal TIF funding.

“This TIF façade grant is for specific businesses to update their facades,” explained Michaels.

Butler requested up to $10,000 to tuck point her building at Green and Veto streets.

Another EDC request came from Andrew Jolly who owns the old fire station. He also requested TIF façade grant money to tuck point the building. This is also up to $10,000.

Seth Campbell presented his project to the commission which includes a new Dairy Queen to be built at I-55 and Route 24. Stacy Eilts will work with Campbell as the EDC liaison.

April 8 meeting minutes were authorized along with the bills and payroll. The 2023-2024 audit was approved as well.

During public comment, Commissioner Hernandez was thanked for cleaning a tree out. Another resident suggested cleaning up the town since there are RV’s parked on the sides of yards and areas that don’t look very inviting on the south end.

Commissioner Zack Lopeman reported his guys are working on the salt shed and cleaning curbs. They have posted a part time streets position. Lopeman has proposed an MFT budget with projects including tar and chipping.

An executive session was held though no action was taken.