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Johnston Town Council deadlocks on location for Walking Trail

web posted March 13, 2007
JOHNSTON – The long and hotly debated issue of the Walking Trail in Johnston was addressed Monday night at the town’s monthly council meeting, but to no avail. Town Administrator Olin Gambrell told the town council he priced both locations, the Jaycee Park and the Watson Park locations, and presented both estimates. In the end the vote was deadlocked three to three on either location leaving the issue unresolved.

When the agenda item was reached in the meeting Mayor Willie Campbell asked the council to, “please consider the Watson Park location.” Town Councilwoman Tyra Miller, who in the past indicated she supported the Jaycee park location, was the one to make the motion to place the walking trail at the Watson Park location after some discussion. After a second the vote showed Council members Tyra Miller and Frank Nicholson joining with Mayor Campbell voting in favor of the measure and councilmen Buddy Smith, Morris Holmes, and Tommy Burton voting no.

A second vote on the Jaycee Park showed the same deadlock vote along the same lines.

The projects, independently, would cost $21,000 to install a 950-foot track of concrete at the Jaycee locations and $36,400 for a four tenths of a mile asphalt track at Watson Park. The reason for the different applications, concrete versus asphalt, was made due to a paving machine not being able to work in the confined Jaycee Park area.

Councilwoman Miller said she wanted to include the cost of lighting regardless of which location eventually was chosen. “Safety is an issue,” she said. She noted that she walks and that often times during the winter months “it gets darker earlier” and suggested placing a timer, if applicable, when the lights are installed.

Administrator Gambrell told the council that adding lighting would practically double to cost of the project. Councilman Holmes stated the cost for lighting at the Jaycee Park location would be less since a large portion of the area is already lighted. “Even if we place ten lights our (electric bill) cost would still be under $100 a month.” Currently the electric bill for the Watson Park location runs $400 a month. The Jaycees pay the electric bill at that park.

Adding the lighting to the grant application for the walking trail may come with its own problems Administrator Gambrell pointed out as “reoccurring costs” are not allowed to be included in the application. The reoccurring costs may include a monthly power bill or other related funds needed to maintain the lighting.

The deadline for the grant application is March 23, 2007.

Matching funds for the grant were also said to be $4,200 for the Jaycee location and $7,200 at the Watson Park. Those matching fund estimates were based on the cost provided for the tracks not including any lighting.

The town council asked Mr. Gambrell to get figures for the requesting lighting from SCE&G at the two locations and report back as soon as possible.

With no meeting scheduled before the March 23 deadline the town council will have to hold a special called meeting to approve a location in order to move forward on the grant application. The grant application cannot provide for two walking trails Mr. Gambrell said. Only one location can be submitted.

Councilman Tommy Burton said that he wanted to make it clear that the idea of the grant and the Watson Park location was not a part of the discussion until brought forward just recently by Mayor Campbell.
 


 
 
 

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