Parks make strides in completing master plan

By Janet Morales

The Moberly Parks and Recreation Board met in regular session Tuesday night and approved bids for the next phase of work on the Municipal Auditorium.

Bids have been accepted and approved by the Park Board and the Moberly City Council for interior Phase I which includes the installation of an elevator and kitchen, new curtains, painting, which will include a new color scheme, and acoustical improvements. Parks Director Michael Bork reported painting would begin March 29 with the completion of everything set for the first week of June.

The Board approved bids for three areas of the next phase of interior work. Electronic Contracting in the amount of $32,131. According to Bork, this will provide six speakers, three for each side of the stage, four wireless microphones, four plug-in microphones, an amplifier and a control board. Bork said the facility would need a new mechanized screen as the old one has two significant tears in it. Bork said an alternative bid was rejected because it included projectors that are not needed at this time.

Board members Dennis Winn and Sam Richardson asked about the quality of the equipment. Katie Noyd, recreation specialist, said the department only needed basic equipment since any band or musical group would generally bring their own sound system. Architect and project manager Steve Nuhn said the system was such that a person without experience with sound systems would be able to flip a switch to turn it on but someone with more experience could manipulate it.

The board received two bids for railing replacements with a large disparity in price quotes. Bork said some of the existing railings no longer meet code regulations and must be replaced so the decision was made to replace all railings throughout the building.

Nuhn said there is a little over 300 linear feet of railing that will be installed. The new railings will be a little bigger, stronger and will uphold to current codes. They will be steel pipe with a brushed aluminum finish. The current railings are copper-covered brass, said Nuhn. The board approved the bid submitted by American Sun Control in the amount of $4,850.

The flooring bid went to Hayes Floor in the amount of $9,548. This will include stripping and refinishing the main floor and the stage, said Bork. Oil-based polyurethane sealant will be used and a maintenance plan will be included.

All bids must be approved by the Moberly City Council before they are finalized.

As part of the master plan, the Parks Department was to replace the John Douglas Building. The Lodge, the new multipurpose building for Rothwell Park is completed, with the exception of some minor interior changes and asphalt and concrete work to be done on the outside, and has seen its first event. From a functional standpoint, the Douglas Building has been replaced.

Bork provided the board with three alternatives for the Douglas building, ranging from demolition, at a cost of $7,000, to transforming it into a shell with basic lighting for storage and basic summer activities. Ralph Boots with the City of Trenton and former park Board member, expressed interest in the building, which can be sold only to another municipality. However, the cost of the project precluded them from purchasing the building and there were no other offers. Larry Threlkeld, Parks superintendent, said there is no other place in the park to put it.

“It is such an ugly building, I think it should be torn down,” said Board member Mary Lee Noel. “It hurts the Lodge.”

“The intention has always been to tear it down but I wanted to present the options,” said Bork.

Bork pointed out that the cost of demolition is $7,000. The old water slide was recently sold on ebay for $7,050 so the board agreed to use those funds for the demolition and removal.

The Lodge has seen its first event, reported Bork, speaking of the Spring Expo and Garden Show held in the facility this past weekend.

“There were a few minor problems,” said Bork. “It was as large an event as we will have. There are some minor things that have to be addressed but we are working out the kinks.”

Rental of the facility is $200 plus a refundable $50 deposit. The concrete and asphalt work is expected to be completed by the end of April “barring torrential downpours or a snowstorm,” said Bork.

Montie Barcus spoke to the board concerning a discount request for an event to be held in Rothwell Park by the Tri-County Amateur Radio Club (Ham Club).

Barcus said there are 70 licensed radio operators in the tri-county area of Chariton, Randolph and Monroe counties. Since they are licensed by the FCC, these operators would be called into service in the event of an emergency. Barcus said that numerous radio operators wwent to Haiti in an effort to improve communications.

The event for which Barcus is asking price consideration is Field Day, a weekend where radio operators get together for training and simulate emergency situations. In deference to the aid the local club could potentially provide, the board approved the request.

Larry Threlkeld said testing had been done on the old pool in regards to paint and asbestos. These tests, which received good results, are required before the pool can be demolished.

Last week’s Parks Job Fair, held Tuesday and Saturday, saw 250-300 applicants, reported Bork.

Katie Noyd said the textcaster should be set up within the week. This feature will notify all who sign up of Parks cancellations such as ball games called due to inclement weather. Moberly Motors has agreed to sponsor the textcaster.

Noyd participated in a class to become a certified sports administration, a position that is required for communities with sports programs.

David Musgrove, recreation programmer-aquatics and concessions, said work is still underway in getting computers set up in the concession stands and training for workers would begin soon. He said he has also set up an aquatic center manual to accompany the full Parks manual.

• The Wild Game Cookoff has been cancelled due to lack of interest but Threlkeld expects a strong turnout for the archery event. Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m., Saturday, at the Lodge. The event includes a youth category for ages 12-15 and a “cub’ division for children at least seven years old.

• An Easter Kids Craft class will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, March 27, at the James Youth Center. The class is for children ages 5-10. Children must be pre-registered by March 24.

• Moberly’s Got Talent show will be held at 6 p.m., Saturday, March 27, at the Municipal Auditorium. The event is for everyone and is divided into three age groups. There is no fee to compete.

• The Flashlight Easter Egg Hunt will begin at dark, Thursday, April 1, at the Athletic Complex. This year’s event will include an area just for adults.

“There is no hibernating period for parks,” said Bork. “We are already making plans for next winter and we anticipate a great spring and summer.”