Future plans for Frazier Park has been a topic Ulysses City Council and community members have discussed since the beginning of the year. A special meeting was called again August 12, at City Hall, with a nearly full room of interested parties.
Mayor Tim McCauley opened the meeting with an explanation to those in attendance. McCauley said council would discuss the park first before opening the session up to comments and concerns from the community.
"What this is, is a meeting for us to discuss the Frazier park area," McCauley said.
"Priority-wise, what are we looking at wanting to possibly start with or begin with (on Frazier Park)," asked McCauley of the council.
Ulysses City Administrator Luke Grimes said it would be good for the council to tell him what their "priorities" are as far as the park.
"What is council's top priorities, what are our lowest priorities, and what isn't a priority at all - that might be a good place to start," Grimes said. "(So) we can have an idea where we can start. What to start planning for, budgeting for, get designed. What are other things council is wanting to get done in the near future."
Councilman Ken Warner pointed out the whole process of making changes to the park came about because of discussion regarding a possible band shell.
"So we need to talk about that (a bandshell, and), the second thing we talked about was a club house," Warner said. "I guess my question to the council is: what is our purpose of a clubhouse? Are we talking about improving it for golf or are we talking about as a community center? I think those are the two top priorities we need to talk about and things that got this while concept started."
Warner said from those two items council can then move to other items.
"We know we can't do all of these things at once - we may not do all of it anyway," Warner said. "Where do we need to start? What's a priority? What kind of budget and funding are we talking about?"
Mark Diaz voiced concerns regarding the proposed bandshell. Diaz pointed out if a bandshell itself was $180,000, with roadwork and other expenses for it, "you could have an easy million dollars" invested in it.
"I think we have up here on Main Street right now what Pioneer Communications and the city put together and is only used two or three times a week," Diaz said. "I just think that taxpayer money - that's a waste..... At the end of the day, I don't think the usage of it is going to be there."
Diaz said he knows there is money there that is for the bandshell, but that could be utilized for something else.
"I don't think at this time it is something that the city needs," Diaz said. "I think we have usages for our money elsewhere."
Councilman Terry Dimitt expressed he feels it would be better to focus on taking care of what is already there.
"There are several things at Frazier Park that need to be addressed," Dimitt said. "I think the band shell is an additional up keep item that would just be added to everything else we already have to keep up. I think we need to focus on what we have and keeping it up."
City Councilman Caleb Woods said he likes the idea of a bandshell.
"I like it for churches. I like it for public use. The school," Woods said. "It has created some controversy. I think we still need to move forward. I would like to see it there. I think it would be used. There are a lot of grants and things out there."
Woods said there seems to be some support for the bandshell from some of the "bigger businesses" in town.
"I think it would showcase our area we have out there," he added.
See more on this meeting in the next edition of the Ulysses News
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