McGregor ready to proceed with Turner Park trail
By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times
Work on the trail that will wrap around the perimeter of McGregor’s Turner Park will begin soon.
The city council approved a bid to Vorwald Excavating for dirt and culvert work for the project for $18,415 and to Iverson Construction for asphalt for $18,898.34 at its Aug. 19 meeting.
The trail, which is phase I of the Turner Park: Fitness for All Ages improvement project, will be one-fourth mile long. It will have an asphalt surface and stretch 10 feet across.
At the meeting, the council also approved a 28E agreement with the MFL MarMac School District. Through the agreement, the school gave $20,000 toward the trail project in exchange for using the park for classes, sports practices and other activities.
City Administrator Lynette Sander said, so far, $90,000 has been raised for Turner Park improvements. The committee is working on an Upper Mississippi Gaming Corporation grant for some playground pieces. With that, the first three phases of the project can be completed, she noted.
Phase II will include a nature-inspired playground. In the third phase, picnic area and field improvements are the priority. One aspect of this phase, a new concession stand, is already in the works, with the McGregor Clan Lions Club fundraising for the project. The fourth phase is a splash pad, which is a recreation area that will spray, rain, dump and pour water on people through nozzles both in the ground and in brightly-colored water features shaped like fire hydrants, flowers, fountains and trees.
Holiday Shores
Mayor Harold Brooks said the city has not yet been approached with a plan for the Holiday Shores Motel location, noting that condos will not go there, as the location is not zoned for that.
City hall sign
The council looked at several options for a new sign that will go in front of city hall. The sign will be designed and constructed by Walter Stavroplus, of Troop 32, for his Eagle Scout project. It will feature the city’s logo and face the road. The council liked that several metal post options for the sign complimented the community’s lampposts, giving a historic air.
Hazard mitigation meeting
McGregor will host a county hazard mitigation plan update meeting on Monday, Sept. 21, at 5:30 p.m., at city hall. At the meeting, city personnel and public safety officials, as well as any members of the public, are welcome to share hazards they’re concerned about in the community. The county updates its plan every five years as a FEMA requirement in order to receive funding in case of a disaster.
