Malta City Council approves pool fixes

The Malta City Council approved a motion to help prolong the life of the City Pool last Tuesday night following a town hall meeting the night before in which over 70 Phillips County residents were in attendance.

The Council members unanimously passed a motion to spend in the neighborhood of $31,500 on three new pool heaters, gas lines, sand for the filtration system, a new chlorination system, a new external pool vacuum and new battery and power pack for the pool’s Dolphin Vacuum.

The approved motion follows a special meeting held at City Hall in which Phillips County residents said that the county should have a pool and at the conclusion of the meeting, 20 people signed up to form a foundation to help raise money, manage grants and spearhead an effort to build a new pool in the next several years. At today’s rates, a new pool would come with a price tag of an estimated $1.6 to $1.8 million.

The $31,500 approved at the Tuesday night City Council meeting comes on the heels of the pool’s current boiler not meeting state inspectors’ standards and the pool has been running unheated for the past few weeks. The new heaters included in the most recent pool spending – which comes out of the 2016 City budget and was already earmarked for pool expenses – will replace the faulty boiler.

The Council also voted in favor of Ordinance #446 setting the rules and regulations of the new skatepark in town (see bottom of story.)

During the City Clerk Report, the council was informed that the City Gym has been shutdown for the time being following a bit of vandalism that left the gym’s floor scratched. City Clerk Lorie Bond reported that some children had taken a set of wooden stairs near the stage in the gym and dragged it underneath a basketball hoop, leaving “a huge mark.” She said the City has a list of children who were in the gym when the incident took place, all but one have come back to the gym since the floor was scratched and no one has fessed up to the ordeal.

“It’s hard to punish the good kids,” Councilman Jim Sintler said, “but that’s the only thing you can do until somebody comes forward.”

Mayor Shyla Jones added that though the gym is closed for the time being, she added that the walkers who use the facility in the morning are still allowed to do so.

During the New Business portion of the night’s meeting, the Council voted in favor of not giving any elected officials a raise this year while approving a 2-to-3-percent raise for City employees. The raise for City employees will add an increase of $14,785 to the 2016-17 budget.

During the Other Comments portion of the meeting, Mayor Jones reported the City Pool could possibly offer some added swim classes during August and that in the Fall, a soccer league is being planned for younger children.

Skate park rules and regulations. It is unlawful for any person to violate any of the following rules and regulations while at the skate park:

A. Use of the facility is only allowed during park hours- (Dawn to Dusk) After hours use or use when closed will result in a trespass citation.

B. All persons within the skate park area must be alert and exercise common sense and courtesy to others. Skate Parks are prone to flying objects and bodies. Know your abilities and skate within them.

C. Proper use of protective gear (Helmets, wrist guards, elbow & kneepads) is strongly recommended. Concrete and steel are harder than you are.

D. Skateboards and in-line skates and kids scooters only. Absolutely no bicycles or motor vehicles. Violations will result in trespass citations and possible seizure of equipment.

E. No obstacles , other material, glass, food or drink is allowed in the skate park. These items jeopardize the skaters.

F. Do not skate if the surface is wet or icy. The skate park surface is extremely dangerous when wet.

G. No spectators inside the skating area. Spectators, please watch from outside the facility. You will be much safer there.

H. Trash containers must be used to keep the park clean and safe. Help keep your skate park clean. Use the trash cans. You pack it in you pack it out.

I. Be considerate of the surrounding property and neighbors by skating only in the skate park area. NO loud music.

J. Alcohol, tobacco products, drugs and offensive language are prohibited.