Further discussion about the condition and progress of the Blytheville soccer fields dominated Thursday evening's meeting of the City Council's parks and recreation committee. While a plan is in place to make the season happen, only one half of the field is repairable with the amount of dirt which has been provided by the city. Teams which would normally play on the other half will have to be relocated.
Representatives from the Blytheville Area Soccer Association brought a presentation to the committee, listing items which were still needed to make the season happen this fall:
-- Completed dirt hauling and leveling for repairs to plateaus one and two (one half of the full field area). This would include using the already dumped dirt to repair ruts, bare spots and damage to the field where a water line was recently run.
-- Watering for grass seed. Advisors have told the BASA that the current single spigot installed by the city will not provide enough pressure to properly irrigate the field.
-- 500 feet of construction fence and metal fence posts. This will be used to enclose an empty grass area across the soccer parking lots from the current fields, which will be used as a temporary makeup space for some teams which would normally play on the remaining half of the field.
-- Additional stop signs and crosswalks to create safe walkways across the parking lot and CornerKick Drive, where the relocated field and practice area will be.
-- Repairs to parking lot lighting (only two of the six lights are functioning).
-- Additional port-a-potties and hand washing stations for the relocated fields.
City Parks Director Elroy Brown told the committee that he was planning to meet with representatives from the baseball/softball organization, to discuss the possibility of the soccer teams using some back baseball fields as a temporary playing space, but BASA members expressed concern about not having enough board members or volunteers to watch players in three or four different locations.
The condition of the unused swimming pool at Williams Park was also discussed, and a motion finally passed recommending that the pool be filled in as Brown recommended, with the city's dirt and then a layer of concrete.
Councilman L.C. Hartsfield requested that Brown get a price on the project and get it done, saying that the city "can't allow the pool to sit there being a risk and a health hazard." Hartsfield also pointed out that that city has code requiring citizens to empty or fill in stagnant water on their own property, and should be following the code itself.
"We have an ordinance that requires property owners to fill in anything that contains stagnant water, but we aren't doing it ourselves," he said. "We need to start following our own ordinances."
Brown also addressed the fact that many city areas need mowing, but told the committee he does not have the manpower to keep up.
The city currently has one full time and two part-time mowers, and Brown said he has requested additional workers from the Workforce program at ANC and has already found one to hire.
Delta Gateway Museum Director Leslie Hester reported a successful May, with over 400 visitors to the museum during the Mayfest event. She added that she is working on a long term loan of a large Native American artifact exhibit, which would feature items sourced from Mississippi County.
Hester also mentioned that the museum will soon be developing its own local sports history exhibit, and any local sports items from bygone days, such as helmets, jerseys, trophies and team photos, would be appreciated on a loan basis.
Ken Jackson, representing the Arts Council and Ritz Civic Center, reported to the committee that the HVAC system at the Ritz is only functioning at 25 percent. Jackson said that city finance director John Callens had looked at the damage and a plan is being made to make repairs, but that the theater temperature stayed above 80 degrees during a recent student performance and a busy summer season is ahead.
Hartsfield wrapped up the meeting by thanking the "few citizens who do attend," and all the volunteers who have worked to bring multiple events to town this weekend.
The council's code enforcement committee also met and received an update from Asst. Police Chief Ricky Jefferson about his public lighting expansion project.
Jefferson said that as soon as the overpass construction on Highway 18 is completed, lighting can be directed underneath to discourage criminal activity. He added a reminder that upon completion of the project, Walnut Street will become two-way.
Councilman John Musgraves spoke up about the early presence of political signs in advance of this fall's campaign season.
"Signs can only go up 60 days prior to an election," he said, "and I've already started getting calls and seeing them around, so we need to let these people know they can't put them up yet."
sspears@blythevillecourier.com