| Recreation Sports Complex |
Recreation Committee Meeting
Date: 01/16/2006
Time & Place: 7 p.m. Olla Town Hall
Those present: Brian Devaux, Sidney Emfinger, Chris Barnhill, and Joel Sims. Absent: Dewanna Pitman. Others
present: Dawn Stott, Katherine Tyler, Charlie Anderson, Johnnie Fryar, W.O. Poole, Howard McCarty, Steve
Barbo, Renee Thomas, and Wanda Love. Wanda Love opened the meeting at 7:05 p.m.
Love explained that the town was awarded a grant from Land and Water Conservation to begin work on the ball
fields. Love explained that the project can be phased and that when the first phase is 80% complete the town can
request funding for the next phase. Love advised that time on the Tony Hawk grant (for the skate park) will expire
in November of 2007. Love explained that she would like to get the committees input on what should be included
in the first phase of construction for the recreation complex.
Brian Devaux, representing the Recreation Committee, explained to the others in attendance the history of the
design of the complex and the process the committee has been through to arrive at this point.
Members of the LaSalle Parish School Board inquired about the plans to develop the property across from the
high school. Emfinger explained that the town sold the property across the road/beside the library to the school
board and that the town understood the School Board was going to develop that themselves. Stott explained that
in the beginning the town agreed to sell the School Board a small piece of property beside the library in order for
them to build a parking lot so that students and faculty would not park along the street. Later the school board
approached the town with buying all the property across the road with hopes of developing a walking trail and
tennis courts. Emfinger explained that the town will not be able to develop the school boards property.
A lengthy discussion followed of the grants awarded, matching funds required, and in-kind matches. Stott
explained that the town had intended to use the value of the National Guard’s clearing of the property as a match
for the Land & Water Conservation grant, but that the clearing occurred before the grant was awarded. Katherine
Tyler questioned the town’s match requirements and grant award conditions. Stott advised that the town had
agreed to match the Land and Water Conservation grant with $150,000 in reserve funds. Tyler asked what the
match for the Tony Hawk skate park grant is. Stott was not sure, but that completing the park will cost more than
$10,000.
Steve Barbo suggested that the town apply for capitol outlay funding to complete the other phases of the project.
The group reviewed the cost proposals presented by SJB in October of 2006. Devaux noted that the cost
estimates have doubled since the master plan was drawn up in 2005. Devaux questioned whether the quote for
site prep is for all the fields or for two. A lengthy discussion followed concerning the cost of building four fields
versus two fields, the advantages and disadvantages, and the cost of doing so. Love reminded the group that the
complex will be built in phases and that if two fields are constructed now, then the other two can be constructed in
the next phase. Suggestions were offered such as building four fields and only lighting 2, an estimate to fence the
other two, Get lighting prices from Monroe or West Monroe Electric for the fields to get an idea of the cost. Devaux
that the town needs to get the best prices and that bidding it out as one whole project might not be the cheapest
way. Stott explained that state bid law will not allow the town to piece meal a project. Devaux stressed his concerns
about getting the most for the money. Fryar asked why the town could not access prison labor for some aspects of
the project.
Thomas asked who was going to maintain the facility once it is built. The group agreed that is an issue that needs
to be addressed by the town, acknowledging that once the entire complex is completed there will be more work
keeping it up than volunteers can do. Prison labor was mentioned again.
The group agreed to have Stott obtain cost estimates from other engineers for the two smaller fields and the skate
park, with an optional quote for all four fields. The group asked Stott to check with other nearby towns that have
constructed parks lately to find out what engineer they used, if they were satisfied, how they funded their project,
who designed the park, what contractor built the facility, etc.
The meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m.
______________________________
Dawn B. Stott
Town Clerk, MMC
Date: 01/16/2006
Time & Place: 7 p.m. Olla Town Hall
Those present: Brian Devaux, Sidney Emfinger, Chris Barnhill, and Joel Sims. Absent: Dewanna Pitman. Others
present: Dawn Stott, Katherine Tyler, Charlie Anderson, Johnnie Fryar, W.O. Poole, Howard McCarty, Steve
Barbo, Renee Thomas, and Wanda Love. Wanda Love opened the meeting at 7:05 p.m.
Love explained that the town was awarded a grant from Land and Water Conservation to begin work on the ball
fields. Love explained that the project can be phased and that when the first phase is 80% complete the town can
request funding for the next phase. Love advised that time on the Tony Hawk grant (for the skate park) will expire
in November of 2007. Love explained that she would like to get the committees input on what should be included
in the first phase of construction for the recreation complex.
Brian Devaux, representing the Recreation Committee, explained to the others in attendance the history of the
design of the complex and the process the committee has been through to arrive at this point.
Members of the LaSalle Parish School Board inquired about the plans to develop the property across from the
high school. Emfinger explained that the town sold the property across the road/beside the library to the school
board and that the town understood the School Board was going to develop that themselves. Stott explained that
in the beginning the town agreed to sell the School Board a small piece of property beside the library in order for
them to build a parking lot so that students and faculty would not park along the street. Later the school board
approached the town with buying all the property across the road with hopes of developing a walking trail and
tennis courts. Emfinger explained that the town will not be able to develop the school boards property.
A lengthy discussion followed of the grants awarded, matching funds required, and in-kind matches. Stott
explained that the town had intended to use the value of the National Guard’s clearing of the property as a match
for the Land & Water Conservation grant, but that the clearing occurred before the grant was awarded. Katherine
Tyler questioned the town’s match requirements and grant award conditions. Stott advised that the town had
agreed to match the Land and Water Conservation grant with $150,000 in reserve funds. Tyler asked what the
match for the Tony Hawk skate park grant is. Stott was not sure, but that completing the park will cost more than
$10,000.
Steve Barbo suggested that the town apply for capitol outlay funding to complete the other phases of the project.
The group reviewed the cost proposals presented by SJB in October of 2006. Devaux noted that the cost
estimates have doubled since the master plan was drawn up in 2005. Devaux questioned whether the quote for
site prep is for all the fields or for two. A lengthy discussion followed concerning the cost of building four fields
versus two fields, the advantages and disadvantages, and the cost of doing so. Love reminded the group that the
complex will be built in phases and that if two fields are constructed now, then the other two can be constructed in
the next phase. Suggestions were offered such as building four fields and only lighting 2, an estimate to fence the
other two, Get lighting prices from Monroe or West Monroe Electric for the fields to get an idea of the cost. Devaux
that the town needs to get the best prices and that bidding it out as one whole project might not be the cheapest
way. Stott explained that state bid law will not allow the town to piece meal a project. Devaux stressed his concerns
about getting the most for the money. Fryar asked why the town could not access prison labor for some aspects of
the project.
Thomas asked who was going to maintain the facility once it is built. The group agreed that is an issue that needs
to be addressed by the town, acknowledging that once the entire complex is completed there will be more work
keeping it up than volunteers can do. Prison labor was mentioned again.
The group agreed to have Stott obtain cost estimates from other engineers for the two smaller fields and the skate
park, with an optional quote for all four fields. The group asked Stott to check with other nearby towns that have
constructed parks lately to find out what engineer they used, if they were satisfied, how they funded their project,
who designed the park, what contractor built the facility, etc.
The meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m.
______________________________
Dawn B. Stott
Town Clerk, MMC