Vienna City Council talks levy renewal, parks master plan
From left, Michael Kesterson, general manager of the Mid-Ohio Valley Transit Authority, and Andrew Woofter represented the MOVTA during discussion of the transit levy renewal at Thursday’s Vienna City Council meeting. (Photo by James Dobbs)
Vienna City Recorder Melissa Elam tells her thoughts on the pool during the parks master plan discussion during the Vienna City Council meeting. (Photo by James Dobbs)
From left, Michael Kesterson, general manager of the Mid-Ohio Valley Transit Authority, and Andrew Woofter represented the MOVTA during discussion of the transit levy renewal at Thursday’s Vienna City Council meeting. (Photo by James Dobbs)
Vienna City Recorder Melissa Elam tells her thoughts on the pool during the parks master plan discussion during the Vienna City Council meeting. (Photo by James Dobbs)
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VIENNA -- Vienna City Council discussed the transit levy renewal, parks master plan, and an update on 45th Place water line project during its regular meeting Thursday evening.
Council member Jim Leach was absent from the meeting.
Andrew Woofter, one of the representatives for Mid-Ohio Valley Transit Authority, spoke about the transit levy renewal, explaining the levy rate will not be increasing. He said all they are asking is that council approves the renewal to be put on the ballot in the May primary election so the citizens can vote on it.
On Tuesday evening, Parkersburg City Council voted 8-0 to approve the first reading of an ordinance for the transit levy renewal to appear on the ballot in Parkersburg. Parkersburg's council will vote on the second reading during its next meeting.
Vienna Council approved the order authorizing the renewal to be placed on the ballot Thursday night.
Mayor Randy Rapp opened council up for discussion on the parks master plan. Rapp said he would send the notes of the discussion to Jim Christie with Civil & Environmental Consultants in order for Christie to finalize the plan.
The majority of the discussion was about Jackson Pool, and how it needs to be the main priority. City Recorder Melissa Elam, council member Kim Williams, and council member Roger Bibbee agreed that it would be best to close the pool for this summer, if needed, to complete the construction.
The master plan included three separate pool designs and one of the plans moved the pool to replace the community building in Jackson Park. Williams said her concern with building a pool there was that it would put the pool in a flood zone. Elam's main concern with the pool in that area was crossing 34th Street to get to the pool, from what would be the new parking lot.
Elam said they should keep the pool where it is, and make it a zero entry pool for younger kids. She also suggested keeping the cabana idea for rentals, having "night parties" with a movie screen or colored lights, more seating areas, and keeping the diving boards.
Bibbee said the feedback that he has received about the pool is not having an area for toddlers.
"What I heard, kind of led me to believe that … if we had something to accommodate those kids, that probably the attendance at the pool, we would see an increase in that attendance," he said.
Bibbee said he was all for a zero entry pool or a kiddie pool to get back the age group of citizens the pool has lost over the past couple of years.
No decisions were made Thursday.
Rapp gave an update on the water line project at 45th Place. He said it was approved by the Vienna Utility Board last Friday, and now council is waiting to receive the Task Order from Burgess and Niple. Once it is received, council can approve the cost of Burgess and Niple's services, and put out a bid for the project.
James Dobbs can be reached at jdobbs@newsandsentinel.com