No action on skate park yet

During the public comment portion of the most recent Fairbury City Council meeting, Jason Smith presented his plan to convert the older basketball court at Marsh Park into a skate park with steel ramps.

The old basketball court is no longer needed because two new basketball courts were recently added to the west side of Marsh Park.

Mr. Smith's plan would require adding more concrete to the existing basketball court. An acquaintance of Mr. Smith owns some surplus steel ramps and is willing to sell them for $15,000 for this project. Mr. Smith plans to work with the Prairie Lands Foundation and lead a public fundraising effort to secure the estimated $30,000 needed for the project.

Mayor David Slagel said the skate park idea had been proposed before and that the City's insurance company would require a fence around it. Mayor Slagel also said Marsh Park was getting pretty full, and he wasn't sure it was the right location for a skate park. Since this proposal was not on the official agenda for the City Council meeting, no action was taken by the City at this time.

Streets Superintendent Lonnie Rhoads reported that the Locust Street resurfacing project was on schedule. Next steps include adding the new asphalt and then painting the parking spaces. The parking spaces will be widened from approximately nine feet to ten feet.

Superintendent Brett Ashburn reported that the City Council will vote to annex the new school property into the City of Fairbury at its next meeting.

Because Fairbury is the official taxing body for the Southeastern Livingston County Ambulance Service (SELCAS), the City is required to hold at least one meeting per year concerning SELCAS funding. Jeremy Stoller reported that SELCAS is struggling somewhat with the large increase in gasoline prices. The City Council approved the proposed annual SELCAS budget.

The City Council voted to approve annexing another small parcel of Fairview Haven property into the city limits.

The City Council also approved repairs to a blower at the wastewater treatment plant and repairs to a water main at North 4th Street and Columbia Street. The Council also approved a maintenance contract for the City's warning siren system and the purchase of a new city vehicle.