When the Board of Alderman met Thursday, Sept. 13, two separate improvement projects at City Park were discussed.

For the second time, Jesse Wilson of the Gerald Athletic Association addressed the board. His group is seeking permission to install an electronic scoreboard at the ball field in the park. The scoreboard would be located behind center field with the controls in the dugout.

When Wilson spoke to the board in August, he was told certain requirements must be met. These include: engineered plans, a separate electric meter and that the site be brought back to current condition when the job was completed. The GAA would be responsible for paying for the electrical usage for the scoreboard. 

Wilson reported to the board that if a separate meter were installed it would necessitate a new circuit box as well. 

Wilson asked the board to consider the GAA pay a usage fee of $1,000 per year to cover the cost of the electricity, the ball field lights and the power used in the concession stand. It would also include the cost of insurance for the grounds and ball field improvements. 

Currently, the GAA pays a $250 user fee. The organization also makes frequent improvements to the ball field area with its own funds. 

The aldermen declined to give firm approval until they could look at engineered plans. They also asked that the electrician the GAA uses for the project be bonded. 

The Board did give conditional approval for the GAA to go ahead with their plans, providing they meet the stipulations of the agreement. 

Several roofing projects at the park were put out for bid, but no one responded. Aldermen agreed to extend the deadline on the bids. 

The extended deadline did produce one bid from Moritz Roofing in Owensville. 

Bids were given for both architectural shingles and metal roofing. 

The aldermen were most interested in replacing the current shingle roofing with metal. The bid did not include a description of the quality of metal roofing that would be used. The aldermen believe metal roofs will be guaranteed to last about 10 years longer than shingles.

Acceptance of the bid was tabled to a special meeting, scheduled for this Thursday, Sept. 27. 

Ward 1 Alderman Steve Grgurich offered to obtain more details on the metal roofing by the special meeting. 

Roofs will be removed and replaced on the gazebo and old rest rooms in City Park and the rest rooms in Legion Park. Repairing a section of damaged shingles on Old City Hall was part of the bid package, but has already been done by city workers.

Moritz Roofing bid $3,875 for architectural shingles and $4,425 for metal roofs. Plywood under the roofing will be replaced as needed at additional cost. 

The bid includes removing the old shingles from the job site.