The Houston City Council postponed a decision Monday on playground equipment replacement due to cost and priority concerns.
Lloyd Wells, city administrator, brought a proposal to the council to replace two structures at Emmett Kelly Park and one at Rutherford Park. All three combined came in over the $100,000 budgeted.
“One thing we’re really lacking is equipment for the 3- to 5-year-old range,” said Wells. He suggested delaying the Rutherford equipment until 2027 to come under budget this year.
Don Romines, Ward III alderman, pushed back.
“I can’t vote for $118,000 to replace something that can be fixed,” said Romines. “We’ve got other problems at Emmett Kelly Park like the roofs on both of our pavilions that need to be changed. To me, that comes before buying new playground equipment.”
Mayor Sam Kelley said he received a rough estimate of about $14,000 to repair the roofs. Romines also stated that he believed one of the broken slides could be repaired for $500.
“We’re not broke, but we’re not overly blessed with money either,” said Romines. “So we need to spend it wisely.”
“If we can fix it and make it safe, I would be for pushing this back,” said Fred Stottlemyre, Ward I alderman. “I don’t know that we got very good estimates on this [playground equipment].”
The council decided to revisit the matter at the first meeting in June, work to repair the slide between now and then and go out for bids for roof repairs.
Meeting items
- Anthony Hagen was approved as the new parks and pool director, based on the recommendation of the parks board.
- A two-year school resource officer agreement renewal with Houston Schools was approved.
- Wells informed the council that the city’s website will have to be ADA accessible by April 2027.
- An ordinance was approved to declare 405 Phelps St. (Houston Mill) a dangerous building. The city will go out to bid for its demolition.
- Windows, doors and building color were approved for the Houston Outdoor Recreation Complex on Spruce Street. The building color will be “cool Egyptian white.”
- A transfer of about $18,000 from the city’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) restricted funds account to the city’s wastewater capital improvements account was approved for two pumps previously purchased.
- Annexing 17.77 of the roughly 60 acres on Spruce Street for the Houston Outdoor Recreation Complex project into the city limits and zoning it agricultural was approved. Another privately-owned property near the land that requested annexation and R-3 zoning was approved.
- Wells told the council that a short, gravel roadway at the end of Opportunity Circle at the Houston Industrial Park will be added soon. He also mentioned progress toward chairs for the cemetery columbarium, removal of a dead tree and updates on dangerous buildings.
The meeting adjourned into closed session at 7:21 p.m. after almost two hours.
