NWO Kids’ Korner ............................12

members Jimmy Landreth and Jim Rigsbee – with the stipulation that the first $100,000 of the purchase price would come from the money allocated in this fiscal year’s budget for park capital improvements, and the remainder from the town’s reserves.

Flynt, however, questioned why the three council members were willing to use all the money designated this year for capital park improvements, rather than moving forward on such things as an amphitheater or a basketball court.

“Is the situation that we don’t have enough money or that you guys just want to buy raw land and put everything on hold?” he asked.

“It’s not often that this much land that borders our town park would come up for sale,” Foy said. “We did buy this property (where the town hall and town park are located) as a town 17 years ago. We paid $15,000 an acre, or $375,000 for 25 acres. I’m certain at that time that was a premium for an open piece of farm field, but I think it’s worked out for the community and I think the community appreciates having general use fields, a .7-mile walking trail, and playground equipment.

Flynt also said he objected to paying $24,000 more for the property than it had been appraised for.

“I spend the town’s money like I do my own and I wouldn’t pay $24,000 more than an appraised value … so I’m going to be voting no,” he said.

The property’s unique location would enable the town to increase the size of its park by 40%, Foy noted, adding that existing park infrastructure such as bathrooms and parking could be shared, creating economies of scale.

“Investing in property to expand the town park could also increase the town’s chances of being awarded a matching state PARTF (Parks and Recreation Trust Fund) grant in the future,” Foy said, before concluding, “I do not want to lose this land over $9,000.”

Rigsbee said he regretted the council couldn’t be in total agreement with the purchase, but like Foy, he did not want to miss the opportunity over $9,000.

In an interview this week, Landreth said he looked at several factors before voting in favor of the property purchase.

“I consider myself to be the most conservative member on the council, but there isn’t any more land beside of us and in order to enhance our park, I felt like this was the thing to do … We had the opportunity, we had the money, and we didn’t have to tax citizens to do it,” he said.

Referring to the over 600 survey responses the town received in early 2020 when it sought citizen input on future park improvements, Landreth said nature trails topped the list of desired features.

While the council has made no decisions about how to develop the new property, Landreth said he would “try to persuade folks to make a nice nature trail in there.”

Other desired park features citizens favored were more benches and playground equipment, a farmers market, amphitheater and a basketball court.

Like Foy and others, Landreth said he hopes the investment in more land for a park expansion will increase the town’s chances of getting a matching PARTF grant in the future.

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HALLOWEEN FREAKY 4-MILER & 1-MILE SKELETON RUN/WALK

October 29 | All proceeds benefit the Eden YMCA.