Franklin Park: Recent notes from the Park Board

(In the recent June 19 Park board minutes was the following:
"7. Franklin Park Update. (Moved to this position by prior agreement)

a. Ray Anderson reported that the new playground equipment for the park will be installed before school starts in fall. He relies on assistance from other Public Works staff to do this work, and they are very busy now. There was discussion about exactly where the new equipment will be located. Anderson presented a plan from the Burke Company locating the equipment near the existing east fence. There’s a difference of opinion on where the equipment should go; if it’s to be located where the equipment seller is suggesting, then two and possibly three trees will have to be cut down. Some residents living nearby the park want to avoid cutting trees. Juergens asked why the entire footprint of the equipment installation couldn’t be moved more into the center of the park, recognizing that this might interfere with some of the space associated with the existing backstop. No resolution of this issue at this time.

b. Landscape update. Resident Ayn Steinlein and a crew of volunteers she is organizing will plant as soon designated area is roto-tilled and plant materials purchased.

c. John Rasmussen of Water & Light presented a cost estimate of about $2300 to remove one temporary pole and move another of the electrical service about 48 feet to the east. He gave PRB members a copy of the plat map showing the current locations of the poles and the proposed change. He does not yet have all the information Juergens requested as to what the cable and telephone companies will charge to move their lines to the new pole location, but did say that the “old” pole will have to stay in place until they do so. He estimated that the phone cost will be about $1500 – $2000, but hasn’t heard from the cable company. When the electrical service is moved, there could be a power-outage of several hours in the immediate area. Jacobsen questioned the proposed location of the moved pole and wanted more information about possible other pole locations.

Krueger moved and Merritt seconded that Water & Light undertake the planned pole re-arrangement at their earliest convenience and that PRB approve funding the cost from the Franklin Park allotment of the 2006 Capital Budget. Motion passed 6-1.