“Demolition and site preparations could begin as early as the first half of July,” said Davis. “The target date to be able to play at the complex is 2010. That will allow a year for grow-in of the grass at the facility, which is very important. If everything goes as planned, the 2010 softball and baseball season will be able to start at the complex.”
Voters approved bonds for the project — along with street improvements for the city's downtown area — in a November 2006 election.
The council also approved the award of the bid for the utility portion of the street renovation project during the meeting, giving the nod to Murphy Pipeline of Jacksonville, Fla. According to Davis, the company's $1.09 million bid includes some interesting technology.
“The technology they are using is very new,” said Davis. “It will allow them to replace the water lines without having to dig anything up. The existing line is exploded and the new is basically run into its place.”
Also Tuesday, the council voted down a request from the Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club — a local non-profit organization — to allow participants in its summer program free entry to the municipal pool on Fridays.
Councilmen Manuel Ramirez Jr. and Greg Biddison voted in favor of the measure, which members of the city staff estimated would cost the city $150 in admittance revenue per day. The remaining council members, as well as Mayor Russ McEwen voted against the waiving of fees.
“When I was a kid I participated in these types of programs, and it had a very positive effect on me,” an emotional Ramirez told the council after making the motion to accept the request. “It was one of the best experiences of my life.”
Councilwoman Stephanie Horton opposed the waiving of fees, saying it would set a bad example.
“We've gotten requests like these in the past, and we've denied them,” said Horton. “If we're going to do this, Friday should be free to everyone.”
McEwen said he felt the approval of the measure for a single group could present problems for the council in the future.
“I think this sets a precedence,” said McEwen. “Anyone can come in and make the same request, and it would be difficult to do it for one group and say no to others.”
According to members of the city staff, admittance to the pool located at the Northside Community Center is being provided to the local Boys Club — not associated with the Salvation Army endeavor — at no charge, an arrangement Assistant City Manager Todd Darden said would extend to the Salvation Army.
Local resident Aubrey Weaver Jr. spoke in favor of the waiving of the fees, urging the council to consider the effects it could have on low-income families in Big Spring.
“I encourage you to approve this,” Weaver told the council. “Many of the children that use this program are under-privileged. More than 50 percent of the children at Big Spring Independent School District are on free or reduced-price lunch programs. The entry fee is $2, and that may not seem like a lot of money to the business people on this council, but to these kids, who come from underprivileged families, it's a lot.”
Following the defeat of the measure, McEwen called for the city staff to gather more information on the issue and look at possibly providing a free day at the pool for area children.
“I'm not sure that Fridays are the right day for it, but I think we definitely need to look into this,” said McEwen.
Also during the meeting, the council approved:
