Fulton summer projects progress, officials foresee completion

Fulton Parks and Recreation Director Clay Caswell and a city employee discuss the splash pad - an upcoming feature to Memorial Park. A subcontractor poured concrete Tuesday for the attraction's main area, and Caswell said more concrete will be poured this week for sidewalks and a shaded portion of the splash pad.
Fulton Parks and Recreation Director Clay Caswell and a city employee discuss the splash pad - an upcoming feature to Memorial Park. A subcontractor poured concrete Tuesday for the attraction's main area, and Caswell said more concrete will be poured this week for sidewalks and a shaded portion of the splash pad.

An end is in sight for some of Fulton's summer projects, as reported by city officials to the Fulton City Council during its Tuesday meeting.

The new Garrett Animal Shelter, located on Industrial Drive, has undergone changes from the July city council meeting. At the time the structure was a skeleton with windows and doors, but now the building has filled out with exterior paneling and insulation. TS Banze Construction Inc., based in Foristell, has nearly completed its portion of the project, and City Engineer Greg Hayes said he is waiting for the next phase of the project.

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Two couples, Spc. Kefton Brown and his wife, Kristial, and Spc. Johnnie Reese and his wife, Lisa, say their long goodbyes Tuesday morning.

The city of Fulton raised $250,000 from donations to support the new building. The project was delayed in May when one bid was more expensive than what the city anticipated.

Hayes also said there are hopes for the Seventh Street Bridge to open Thursday morning.

"They are close," he told the council. "They are very close."

Workers will lay asphalt today, according to Hayes, and are expected to be gone by Sept. 1. After the asphalt is poured, minor concrete work will take place and crews will begin clean up.

A subcontractor poured concrete on the site of the new splash pad in Memorial Park on Tuesday. More is expected to come for sidewalks and a shaded area of the site. Parks and Recreation Director Clay Caswell said "above ground" pieces will be installed on Thursday.

He told the council that it will see "visual progress" during the next 10 days. When asked about an end date, Caswell said Frye and Associates, the company working on the project, told him Sept. 1 for completion. Because of delays throughout the summer, Caswell said he couldn't be "100 percent" certain on that date.

In other business, the council discussed the hiring of a new Elton Hensley Memorial Airport manager. Hayes said negotiations with a candidate hit a low point and the decision was made to cease talks. Hayes and City Administrator Bill Johnson presented a new idea to the council: hiring a street department employee (new or current) to take over the position.

This employee's primary responsibility would be to care for the airport, but he or she could also be utilized in the street department.