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Amenities at park to cost $95M | Northwest

admin commerce, donation, economics, gary peters, grading, institutes, little league, money, politics, rick tousley, sponsor 0 Comments May 3, 2022

A destination playground, splash pad, softball fields, Little League Baseball fields, site grading and other upgrades at Lewiston Community Park have an estimated total cost of $95 million.

Lewiston’s city council got its first look at the potential costs of the improvements at a Monday work session.

“I’m looking at this … number, and I’m staggered,” said Councilor Rick Tousley, who emphasized the city is seeking money from sources such as Idaho State Parks and Recreation grants, foundations, private donations and group sponsors.

“We are going to have to be quite creative in how we are able to come up with possible funding sources,” he said.

A step-by-step plan about how to find the revenue would be helpful, said Council President Hannah Liekie, who noted she believes the public sees the improvements as a want, not a need.

“I’m not exactly shocked by the price, but I’m also not ready to go out and sell to the public in the sense of ‘we’ve got it figured out,’ ” she said.

The $95 million includes $10 million in contingencies. The price was broken into seven categories that were listed in order of priority — site grading ($10.3 million), heart of the park ($29.6 million), Little League complex ($19.5 million), softball complex ($24.6 million), amphitheater ($4.1 million), recreational vehicle park ($6.05 million), and other amenities such as a bike park, multiuse field, sand volleyball and disc golf ($800,000).

The heart of the park is a section that would include a destination playground, community gathering area, small stage and splash pad.

Two smaller playgrounds are part of the plan that also adds pavilions, restrooms, concession areas and more features in different parts of the park.

One of the reasons grading is projected to cost so much is because of a 200-foot elevation drop on the site.

More details about how the projects will be paid for are anticipated in June.

In other business, the council heard a presentation from Lewiston-Nez Perce County Regional Airport Authority Board Chairman Gary Peters about putting a proposed new city fire station on airport land.

The council is expected to decide if it will move forward with constructing the station on the northwest corner of Fifth Street and Bryden Avenue at its Monday meeting. That decision will follow a report last month, where councilors learned the estimated costs of the station had risen from $4 million to $6.9 million for a variety of reasons like increases in labor and material costs.

The city would save money if it constructed the station on airport land between Bryden Avenue and the transportation hub, Peters said.

The city could sell its 1-acre lot at Fifth and Bryden for about $1 million. It could earn about $30,000 a year from property tax revenue, which would equal $1.5 million over 50 years that would be generated by private development of the lot, he said.

That projection of property tax revenue is based on what the dental clinic across the street generates, he said.

The city would pay the airport $10,000 a year to lease the land, which would result in a net savings of $2 million over 50 years, Peters said.

The airport site also has the advantage of having less congestion than the city’s land, which is at an intersection that is getting busier every day, he said.

Even with the fire station on the airport land, there would still be room for a hotel and restaurant development the airport is pursuing, he said.

The council also voted to negotiate with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, a union that represents technicians in the water, waste water, street, traffic, sanitation, parks, fleet and facilities departments.

That decision followed a lengthy discussion, some of which focused on how the union has 31 dues-paying members even though it represents 77 employees.

Pat Wilson, a street maintenance technician and executive board member of the union, answered questions at the request of Lewiston Mayor Dan Johnson.

One of the reasons that fewer than half of those eligible for the union belong is because of a high number of retirements, including four in his department in less than a year, Wilson said.

There’s a six-month probationary period before new employees can join, he said.

Some newer employees have “been riding on what the previous contract is and they think that’s just the way it is all the time,” Wilson said.

Wilson’s bargaining unit is one of three for city employees. The others represent police officers and firefighters.

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The Richmond Observer – Richmond County Disc Golf Group tourney raises nearly $1,500 for Autism Society

admin autism, Autism Acceptance Month, Autism Society, charity, Disc Golf, donation, hinson lake, tournament 0 Comments May 2, 2022

ROCKINGHAM — A disc golf tournament last weekend raised around $1,500 to benefit the Richmond County Chapter of the Autism Society of North Carolina.

The inaugural Disc Golf for Good Tournament, held April 23 at Hinson Lake’s disc golf course, drew 80 players from across the state, according to organizer Chris McDonald.

“My main goal with the Richmond County Disc Golf Group’s spring tournament was for it to be a charity event, for a local charity, in conjunction with their normal event,” McDonald said, giving Relay for Life as an example.

When he made a post asking if Relay for Life was being held this year, McDonald said he received several responses of no.

“Also, in the comments, Dana Mintmier, who works with the (Exceptional Children) Department for the county, posted a comment about how (they) and the Autism Society were partnering up for an Autism Walk in April and she hoped the disc golf group and them could work together for an event,” McDonald said. “I’m very thankful she brought up the idea. Unfortunately, we were unable to host both events on the same day but I felt this would be the perfect partnership.”

McDonald said several local disc golf players either have children with autism or “family members who have been impacted one way or the other.”

According to the Autism Society, the rate of autism in children was one in 125 in 2010. A decade later, the CDC reported that it had increased to one in 54. Statistics show the rate has now increased to one in 44 — increasing 241% since 2000.

“(There) are also less-known factoids about autism for the public compared to other potential charities/groups we could have supported,” McDonald said. “So, I went with the Autism Society and I could not have been more thrilled with the choice.”

Meghann Lambeth, leader of the local chapter of the Autism Society, was also thrilled.

She said McDonald contacted her in February about the event.

“I was so honored that he thought of our group to benefit from the disc golf tournament,” Lambeth said. “He and the group not only offered a wonderful event for our community, but generated a very generous donation for our local Richmond County Chapter of the Autism Society of North Carolina.

“We can not thank them enough for supporting our group and organizing these events to utilize the disc golf course at Hinson Lake.”

Lambeth, who is also the executive director of the Richmond County Tourism Development Authority, has a son who is on the autism spectrum. She and her mother, Marcia Lambeth, reorganized the chapter several years ago.

A few days prior to the tournament, the Autism Society received a $2,000 donation from American Woodmark.

With the number of players, more than 10 sponsors and the amount raised, McDonald said, “ I hope to greatly exceed these totals for next year’s event.”

The inaugural Run/Walk for Autism Awareness and Acceptance is scheduled for 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, April 30 — the final day of Autism Acceptance Month — on the track at Richmond Senior High School.

All families are encouraged to participate. Any donations collected will go to the Richmond County chapter of the Autism Society of North Carolina.

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Disc Golf Tournament donates $10K to the Soup Opera in Fairmont | Local News

admin bowl, disc, donation, economics, fairmont wv, game, golf, heather bonecutter, opera, rebecca burton, seth burton memorial disc golf club, sport, tennant, times west virginian, tournament 0 Comments May 1, 2022

FAIRMONT — The nonprofit Soup Opera got a $10,000 boost from the Seth Burton Memorial Disc Golf Club Monday evening at Morris Park.

Most of the money was raised over the year, but part of it was raised at the 18th Annual Ice Bowl disc golf tournament, which was held on February 26 at Morris Park. There were over 40 tournament participants, according to Phillip Burton, co–founder of the memorial disc golf club. Using the motto “No whimps, no whiners,” the tournament is held each year regardless of the weather conditions.

The Ice Bowl is a national disc golf tournament typically held in winter months. Their goal is to raise local awareness of disc golf and funds for local of regional charities based on helping end food insecurity.

Burton and his wife and cofounder Rebecca Burton and club members presented the funds to Soup Opera staff on Monday.

The Seth Burton Memorial Disc Golf Club selected the Soup Opera the year of their first tournament and it stuck. Since then, they have raised an estimated $60,000 to $70,000 for the Soup Opera, Burton said.

“We just have a special place in our heart for the Soup Opera. They’re so grassroots and truly know the people,” Co–founder Rebecca Burton said.

Soup Opera Kitchen Coordinator Misty Tennant said the donation will be used to purchase food to be served and for items in the grocery bags that are sent on the fourth Friday of the month.

Pre COVID–19, the Soup Opera served between 100 and 120 people a day, Tennant said. They re–opened this week and have an average of 45 patrons, but Tennant expects numbers to increase.

“I think it’s awesome that the community steps up. If it wasn’t for the community, the Soup Opera would not be where it’s at today. They support us every year. In February, when this happens, our donations are down because everyone is recuperating from the holidays and what not,” Tennant said.

Heather Bonecutter, board member and disc golf club member, has been playing disc golf for around four years. She said it’s a great way to get exercise and have fun.

“It’s fun to come out, goof off with our friends and throw some plastic for a good cause…Disc golf for me is like free therapy. You just get out there and throw some stuff and then you feel better,” Bonecutter said.

Rebecca Burton agreed and added that getting to interact with people is the best part.

“What’s really fun is that you meet people that you would never meet. I mean, you meet people of all ages and backgrounds. It’s really a nice melting pot,” Burton said.

The Seth Burton Memorial Disc Golf Club has leagues of varying ages and genders, which meet weekly to practice at Morris Park. Anyone interested in participating can visit their Facebook here or just come out to a practice. Bonecutter said they rent out discs to those interested in pursuing the sport.

Donations for the Soup Opera are always welcome, Tennant said. You can donate food, hygiene products and clothing or your time. The Soup Opera is located at 425 Quincy St. It is open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on weekends.

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Disc Golf Tournament donates $10K to the Soup Opera in Fairmont | Tuesday News