The City of Pauls Valley will retain ownership of the Wacker Park ballfields for the foreseeable future, following a recommendation from City Manager Lee Litterell during Tuesday’s regular City Council meeting that the city abandon the idea of negotiating a land exchange with the Pauls Valley School District.
For the last several months the city and the school district have been entertaining a proposal to exchange the ballfields, which are used regularly by the school district and are in desperate need of repair according to school officials, for the old Jackson and Jefferson elementary school properties.
Tuesday’s recommendation came after City Council members convened a short executive session to “discuss the purchase or appraisal of real property.”
“I’d like to make the recommendation that we abandon the idea of doing the land swap and explore other options with the school on making improvements to the baseball field,” Litterell told the council once they returned to open session.
Council members Chip Pearson, Jocelyn Rushing, Bonnie Meisel and Eric Smith made no comment regarding the recommendation and opted to take no action related to the executive session. Council member Jonathan Grimmett was not present at Tuesday’s meeting.
In other business during the regular meeting, Rita Hines-Fryer with the Pauls Valley Arts Council rescinded a request for $5,500 in tourism funding to promote PVAC’s Barn Quilt Trail. Hines-Fryer said after discussion with tourism board members, who initially approved the request during the tourism board meeting March 7, she would like to take more time to develop a marketing plan to promote the Barn Quilt Trail outside the immediate area and reapply for funding at a later date.
Council members did approve a $15,370 request from PVAC for tourism funding for four Fifth Friday Art Walks to be held in 2023.
The council also approved implementing a street pole banner program recommended by the Tourism Board. The program would allow participants to purchase banners advertising local events to be hung on street poles in the downtown area. The tourism board will be responsible for approving banner designs, and the city will charge a $15 fee each time banners are put up or taken down.
Under the Pauls Valley Municipal Authority meeting, council members approved waiving resident dumping fees at the city’s transfer station from 8 a.m. to noon every Saturday in April.
The council also approved a bid from RG3 to install approximately 1,400 additional radio-read water meters. Litterell said RG3 installed the first round of meters and was the only company to submit a bid.
