By Larry Burge
SULPHUR SPRINGS -- New commissioners began their work to restore the beauty of Sulphur Springs' city park Thursday at city hall.
Mayor Greg Barber swore in four of the maximum six parks and recreation commissioners at the first meeting. Volunteer commissioners present were John Thurber, Steve Holland, Scott Weber and Vince Welty. Proposed commissioner Ken Young was unable to attend. The commissioners said they have plans to fill the last seat at their table by next month's meeting.
They set a regular meeting time and date -- the first Thursday of every month at 6 p.m. The meetings are open to the public.
After opening the meeting, Mayor Barber instructed the commissioners about their first duty, to appoint by vote a chairperson, alternate chairperson and recorder for meeting minutes. The group chose Thurber as their chairperson, Vince Welty as vice chairperson and Scott Weber as recorder.
The second order of business was to assign two members each to a 2-, 4- or 6-year term in office. Chairman Thurber volunteered for the 2-year term, along with Welty. Weber volunteered for 4-year term, with Young assigned, and Holland and a yet-to-be-named commissioner to 6-year terms.
Across the hour session, the commissioners discussed several topics. Chairman Thurber asked the members to tell the others a little about themselves and something about the skills and abilities they bring to the commission.
Welty began the discussion by mentioning what he had learned as a rental space proprietor, as well as in his other business entrepreneurships in Sulphur Springs and across the line in Noel, Mo. His experiences have provided him with skills at fund-raising, he said.
Webber, in addition to being a certified Sulphur Springs volunteer firefighter, said he had numerous general skills and knowledge, along with a vision for the park's restoration since moving here from Arizona.
Holland is owner and operator of Holland Roofing and Steve's Place Café in Sulphur. He said he brings tools and workers. He volunteered to use his roofing crew for limited park cleanup and maintenance as needed.
Chairman Thurber said, as a retired heavy equipment operator, that he brought earth moving skills to the commission's table. He demonstrated his organizational and management skills during the session by finding out what skills and expertise each member had to offer.
There was some discussion on what priorities the commissioners should set to bring back the park to its potential beauty and recreational use for the town's children and grown-ups.
The group agreed to meet at Steve's Place at 10 a.m. Saturday for a short coffee break before taking a tour of the park. During that time, Thurber said they would make a list of items in need of repair and maintenance for further discussion on priority fixes.
According to city ordinance, the Parks and Recreation Commission has final say on any related physical thing or special events in the park, as well as any recreational facility within the town's district limits, even outside city limits. They also have complete control of city employees or volunteers working in the park, and in or on site at any recreation facility.
Mayor Barber emphasized to commissioners that any commission, although limited in scope, has as much power and control as a city's council does over the city's business.
General News on 03/12/2014