Certain summer projects still in delay while others progress on schedule

Workers make progress on the Seventh Street Bridge Tuesday afternoon. City Engineer Greg Hayes reported to the Fulton City Council at its meeting Tuesday that utility conduit was recently placed and concrete sidewalk and approach slabs will be poured next week.

Large-scale equipment, hard hats and orange signs have signaled this summer that the City of Fulton is under construction.

Looking ahead, Parks and Recreation Director Clay Caswell and City Engineer Greg Hayes updated the Fulton City Council on various summer projects at its meeting Tuesday.

Caswell said while it may appear that the Splash Pad has not made much progress, piping is almost complete and concrete should be poured this week. Sprinkler heads and Splash Pad material is set to be in place next week.

Photo by Rusty Hubbard

Tritian Gutierrez finds a backpack of educational games and activities for his mother to check out at the HIPPY Preschool Parent Center at Eastside Elementary School in Greenbrier.

Caswell anticipated the Splash Pad being ready for July Fourth, but an issue with the manufacturer has caused a delay. The council approved the final design plan with Kansas City-based Fry & Associates at its April meeting, and Caswell said Tuesday that the Splash Pad was ordered in May.

"That's pretty late for a Splash Pad project," he said.

Windows and doors have been installed at the new Garrett Animal Shelter, Hayes reported to the council. The contract is up on Aug. 4, and Hayes anticipates more workers on site leading up to that completion date.

"They have plenty of time if they put on the man power on site," Hayes said.

Advertisements for the new city warehouse facility will start on July 30, Hayes said, and a pre-bid conference for interested parties is scheduled for Aug. 13. Bids will open on Sept. 11 and will be presented to the council at its Sept. 23 meeting.

Utility conduit has been installed in the Seventh Street Bridge and Hayes said concrete sidewalks and approach slabs (concrete allowing a smooth connection between the bridge to the street) will be poured next week.

Hayes said he was confident the bridge would be ready for the beginning of Westminster College's academic year.

submitted photo

Russellville High School seniors Grace Kellner, left, and Talley Gale, right, place flags on a grave in Oakland Cemetery to show that its information has been collected. The students were gathering the data as part of a mortality-rate study, comparing pre-1950 mortality rates to modern ones.

In other business, the council approved a lease agreement between the city and the Show Me Innovation Center, a business incubator that will aid and promote new, local businesses.

The Show Me Innovation Center will take over the old Fulton Police Department station at the corner of Sixth and Ravine Streets. Rent will cost $1 per year. The city will cover all utilities for the first two years, 75 percent of utility charges for the third year and 50 percent during the fourth and fifth years of the lease agreement. There is a cap of $24,000 for utilities, a number based on activity of the 24-7 police department, Johnson said. After five years, the Show Me Innovation Center will be responsible for all of the utilities.

Fulton Fire Department Chief Dean Buffington and Police Chief Steve Meyers stated they are content with the current fireworks ordinance following the July Fourth holiday. Meyers said officials made about four arrests and Buffington said he saw a record low in fireworks-related incidents.

With a third reading, the water tower located near Westminster College is surplus property and will be out for bidding.