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Vienna officials discuss 80 foot cliff in Jackson Park

By James Dobbs 3 min read

VIENNA -- Vienna City Council discussed Spencer's Landing, Jackson Pool and the Freedom Festival at Thursday's meeting.

Mayor Randy Rapp asked Craig Metz, public works director, to give a comparison between using the city's resources and accepting a bid and using outside resources to fill the ravine in Spencer's Landing.

Metz said all of the proposed development plans of Spencer's Landing showed that the area would be filled in. The city's public works department can do the job cheaper, but is three employees short at this time. He also said the public works department would take months to complete this job, where Jimmie Harper Construction said it could have it done in four weeks and start in two weeks.

Metz estimated the project would take 1,111 loads of dirt or $113,322.

He also showed concern over the dirt pile in Jackson Park, he said right now it is an 80-foot cliff and that someone could get seriously hurt from falling off of it.

"One way or the other we're going to have to move some of that dirt to make that safe and to slip that hillside back," said Rapp. "And it's the perfect opportunity to do both jobs at the same time."

Council unanimously approved the bid from Jimmie Harper Construction for $102 per 18-ton truck load of dirt to Spencer's Landing.

Melissa Elam, council recorder, gave an update on the Jackson Pool. Rapp signed an agreement with Omni Associates-Architects in Fairmont to review and assess the pool for $17,000. A decision on the final group that will construct the pool has not been made at this time. Elam said their goal is to still have the pool open for next year's season.

Rapp commented on the Freedom Festival event that took place on the weekend before July 4, he said the Friends of Vienna took the time and effort to make the event special.

"It was fantastic. It really was," he said.

Jack Mathers said the Friends of Vienna was dedicated to the event because they wanted to promote the town, businesses and citizens of Vienna and wanted people to enjoy themselves.

"They wanted people to experience the laughter because they've been locked up with COVID and they wanted to represent the city."

Council went into executive session to discuss a legal matter referring to the termination of the purchase and sale agreement between ACE Educational Foundation Inc. and the city of Vienna regarding the 12th Street property. No decisions were made in the executive session as it was information only. Council unanimously approved the resolution for Rapp to take the steps necessary to execute the terms of the sale agreement.

In other business:

* Council unanimously approved a bid from Compass Minerals for salt/deicer for the 2022-23 year in the amount of $102.19 per ton and a bid from Jimmie Harper Construction for concrete and subgrade replacement for the 2022-23 year in the amount of $18 per square foot for concrete and $10.50 per square foot for subgrade.

* Council unanimously approved a $1 per hour pay increase for all concession stand seasonal workers.

James Dobbs can be reached at jdobbs@newsandsentinel.com

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