By ELLIE GRAHAM/for The Herald
LOWELL—- The Parks and Recreation Committee convened March 6, to discuss events and updates happening in town. Chaired by Joe Brazill, present members of the committee included Meesa Anders, George Wild, Tony Moreci and Bill Priser. Max Baker, the city administrator and public works director, also attended.
Household hazardous waste drop off, sponsored by Lane County is set to go ahead on April 26, right before a ‘parks clean up day’. Brazill highlighted a slight change this year, in that tires will not be accepted. The event is typically from 9 a.m. to noon but the committee advised that more concrete plans will circulate in the coming weeks.
The committee also brainstormed beautification projects such as park clean up days with the next being rolled out on May 17. A location is still being decided on. Community members are encouraged to get involved with the committee who all agreed to be present. In addition to the usual donuts and coffee breakfast offered to those who attend, hot dogs and snacks will be featured during lunch this year.
In line with the clean ups and beautification efforts, recognizing well-manicured and appointed yards is also on the committee’s agenda for spring.
The ‘Yard of the Month’ program will recognize efforts of residents who take pride in their home and landscape by selecting a winner each month.
Launching in May through October, one stand-out lawn will be selected totaling five local winners. Residents may nominate any yard and landscape within the city, including their own but a different winner must be selected by the committee each month. They noted city council staff cannot be yard nominees and only the portion of the yard viewable from the street will be judged.
The criterion for the initiative outlines that nominated yards should be well groomed and landscapes should be furnished with a selection of plants, shrubs, trees and materials. The prospective property’s structure, fences, porches and patios also need to also be in excellent condition.
Yards must be free of litter, debris, appliances and furniture Vehicles parked at the home should, as well as house numbers, be displayed “attractively”. Extra consideration is said to be given to the properties that have invested “extra effort” into using attractive yard pieces, potted plants, bird houses, patio fountains and mailboxes.
To nominate a yard, residents can email the committee with the property address for nominated property owners to be notified. City staff will be responsible for taking photos of participating properties and submitting them to the committee for review.
Winners will be awarded a yard of the month placard to install at their property and presented with a signed certificate of recognition by the mayor at the following city council meeting. $25 gift cards will also be awarded for use at home improvement stores such as Jerry’s.
The committee said the program, in part, inspires other residents to maintain and present their lawns with pride around town.
To wrap up the meeting, Baker weighed in to echo an update on the bridge project which was addressed at the most recent city council meeting. He referenced the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) which has not been updated since 2009 and is still set to take shape with Lane County who have jurisdiction over the bridge.
“We will not sign an IGA with Lane County until we get the repair plan for it, it does not mean we can’t open and close the gate,” Baker said.
The inspection report cited the need to upgrade the gate, address leaks in the roof and complete some de-mossing and paint work. Due to the costly fee for the repairs, the city is working with the county to establish funding and action the inspection results.
“We’re going to try to get creative and come up with a permanent solution,” Brazill said about the project and negotiating with the county.
ELLIE GRAHAM
Ellie Graham is a master's student in Journalism and Law & Conflict Studies at the University of Oregon. She also reports for the East Oregonian and Ethos Magazine. She hails from Liverpool, England but calls the Pacific Northwest home too. Ellie is an avid trail runner and snowboarder. Her pittie mixes keep her busy and up in the mountains.
