The Recreation Park Board held a rare special call meeting last Thursday night, April 21, prior to the start of the Little League season the following Saturday. Some 10 members were on hand for the call session.

Gina Poore first presented the treasurer’s report, telling the board that Little League had deposited $253.20 in the park board account to fulfill that organization’s obligation to pay the board 10 percent of profits made by running the concession stand last season.

Park Director Bobby Reneau and Chairman Vince Ostertag reported on the improvements being made to the softball/baseball fields at the park in preparation for the Little League season, which is now underway. Paula Little requested the board publicly thank Bob Davis and Gaddie-Shamrock for their contributions to improving the fields.

Reneau also discussed progress on the new batting cages and volleyball court. Those projects should be complete sometime within the next month.

The board voted, on a motion by Carol Parrigin, to declare the following items as surplus and sell via sealed bids, including three light poles, extra lights, a gas grill and other items. The motion was seconded by Randy Speck and passed by unanimous vote.

Board member Jay Garner then discussed progress on preparations for the 4th of July festivities to be held at the park. He gave an update on the donations that had been committed. The city and county government, IDA, First and Farmer’s Bank, and the Chamber of Commerce have all committed to sponsoring the event, and Garner will continue to contact other potential sponsors.

On a motion by Little, the board voted to authorize the same amount of funding and have the same contract with the fireworks company who put on last year’s fireworks display. The motion was seconded by Leland Hicks and passed by unanimous vote.

There was also other discussions about the July 4th celebration, including inflatables and concessions, with more specific details to be worked out later.

Finally, board member Lora Brewington moved to amend a previous motion of the board that authorized $500 to $600 for hiring Olds ‘88 as a band. The revised motion, which passed, approved the same amount to be paid to any band that meets board approval, as Garner advised Olds ‘88 had a much higher fee than the authorized amount.

A week after the call session was held, Garner confirmed that Melrose Pyrotechnics of Elizabethtown would again do the local July 4th show. Last year, the cost of the display was $6,000, but this year, the park board put a cap of $5,000 towards the specific fire works show, which the company has apparently agreed to.

Garner noted that thus far, $6,500 has been donated by city and county government and other entities aforementioned to help fund the overall fireworks celebration at the park.

Several other improvements and additions continue to be in the works for Mountain View Park, with two of the most significant being a separate playground area of smaller, toddler size children, along with some more seating near the playground area and the construction of a multi-purpose sports field.

The park board is getting much needed funding assistance from the Healthy Hometown Coalition program, specifically with the playground and multi-purpose field and help with other items through the University of Kentucky Extension Service, administered locally by the Clinton County office.

The park board would like to thank all supporters, including the aforementioned groups and others who have donated toward the July 4th celebration.

More details on these projects will be forthcoming as details are finalized, possibly by the board’s next regular meeting later this month.

The next regular meeting of the Recreation Park Board is scheduled for Thursday, May 26 at 6 p.m. at Mountain View Park and is open to the general public.