Contributing writer Bonnie Cranmer
At the Aug. 19 meeting of the New Castle Town Council, discussions about the town park were the highlights. After the minutes from the previous meeting were approved, old business moved right to the Town of New Castle sign at the town park. Mayor Lenny Macdonald presented the board with a bid to repaint the sign by Blue Ridge Sign and Stamp for $4,737.48. The sign would need to be removed, delivered to them, picked up and rehung. This expenditure would fall under the Capital Improvements for Park and “will last 20 years or more,” stated Macdonald. The sign painting was approved unanimously.
There was additional conversation about the security cameras surveilling the park for safety and security. Initial research was presented by council member, Robin Foster. The location, electrical and digital access were discussed. No action was taken and further research will be done. The basketball net and backboard has been successfully installed by Precision Tool and Grind, and is still up. Another issue at the town park is the aging trash receptacles. Mayor Macdonald brought the option for branded wraps on new cans which would enhance the park and make trash pickup easier. Potential bids for the new trash cans will be brought to the next meeting.
The council receives ongoing requests for donations and discussed the need for guidelines to be developed. “We need to create standards for the next fiscal year,” Foster stated. “Property taxes don’t cover the cost of streetlights,” Macdonald said. “We’ve got expenses at the park we’ve got to cover. We need to know the impact on the town.”
The meeting addressed the need to find a replacement for the town attorney. A potential attorney will be invited to the next meeting. Other business that required closed session was tabled until the town has legal advice on that procedure. The next meeting of the town council will be on the third Monday at the Town Hall at 7 p.m.
