Westhaven Park is ready for play

The rehabilitation of Westhaven Park is complete, with more improvements planned in the future.

City Administrator Carl Francis announced the completion of the project on Monday during the City Council meeting.

The 1.18-acre park was established in 1961 to benefit homeowners in the Westhaven subdivision and became known as the Westhaven Country Club. A swimming pool and tennis/basketball court were the main features.

Eventually, taxes on the property weren’t paid and it was listed on the Jasper County Delinquent Tax Sale.

Before the sale, though, the city accepted the deed with a promise to make it a neighborhood park.

The park and public works departments have filled in the pool and installed a playground in its place. Future improvements include additional lighting, fencing and upgrading the tennis court, perhaps as a full-size basketball court.

Erin Turner: “I’m getting married” … but leaving

Francis announced that Friday, Sept. 12, will be Erin Turner’s last day as community development director.

Turner said she’s sad to be leaving a job she loves and the “We Love It Here!” city, but she is moving “just a little bit east on Route 66” to Marshfield to be with her future husband, Benjamin Berkstresser, the prosecuting attorney for Webster County.

On her Facebook page, she says, “Those who know me are aware that this has been so much more than a job to me! I adore the community and the people who live, work and play here!”

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In other action, the council:

• Accepted a 50% match grant from MEM Insurance to purchase a Rolln Rack fire hose roller to assist firefighters when storing long lengths of hose that can weigh as much as 100 pounds. MEM will reimburse the city for half of the $9,970 purchase price ($4,985).
• Allowed the purchase of First Due software by the fire department. Fire Chief Andrew Roughton recommended switching software partly because three neighboring departments use First Due and data, such as mapping, can be shared with them. Uses of the software include writing reports, scheduling personnel and maintainging records. The initial expense will be $3,300. An annual subscription will be purchased in December for $13,500.
• Approved increasing charges to install new water meters to match actual costs. Public works director Eddie Kreighbaum reported that the new rates will help the city avoid going over budget for water meters. So far this year, he noted meter costs are $39,682 above budget.
• Approved the Downtown Alliance request to close Main Street from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, for a special event. Council members were assured that all business owners on Main Street are in favor of closing the street for the event. Overtime costs to prepare for the closure, including setting up barricades are expected to be less than $500.