Tuesday night during the regular session of the Sulphur Springs City Council, the council approved two items that will lead to improvements at Pacific Park, two items that will facilitate the relocation of Murray-Orwosky Funeral Home, and discussed the development of an ordinance regarding mobile food units.
The council approved a motion to solicit bids on 50 acres of property on County Road 4738 and to set a minimum bid of $150,000. The property, owned by the city, had been purchased to be used as a landfill but is now no longer needed. City Manager Marc Maxwell told the council that a neighbor to the property has a desire to purchase the land but, by law, the property can only be sold at auction or by sealed bids. He expects the property to sell for around $200,000.
The sale of the property will be used to fund a second item on the council’s agenda that will allow the city to seek grants funds for parks, recreation, and open spaces. The council approved a contract between the City and MHS Planning and Design, LLC, for a Comprehensive Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Master Plan. The master plan will encompass all city open space development but the council will focus on improvements to Pacific Park in the beginning of implementing any plan. City Council members heard from leadership of and Eastside Development group that seek improvements to the park as they set goals for improvements in the area. Among improvements named by the city staff and council are an upgrade to the Greys Building and other physical changes to the park. Part of the money from the sale of the 50 acres of property to be sold by sealed bid at the next council meeting would fund the improvements to the building. Council member Norman Sanders, a former SSPD officer, noted that he had spent much of his career as a community officer in the Pacific Park neighborhood and council member Jimmy Lucas stated that he had spent several years of his youth at the park or walking through the park. Council’s unanimity in approving the steps needed to begin improvements to the park was met by the applause of a rather large number of Pacific Park supporters present.
Just over 10 acres of Property on Wildcat Way will now be known as Jeff-Sue Orwosky Addition and the property will be rezoned from Heavy Commercial to Light Commercial. The property at 848 Wildcat Way is located on the north side of Wildcat Way and west of Vaughn Drive. The property will be the location for a funeral home.
Council members and city staff are working together to develop an ordinance that will govern mobile food units. Staff presented a 3-page summary of an ordinance under construction. Questions regarding permit display and inspection of trucks have been answered. Mobile food units must meet the same requirements as restaurants regarding qualifications of food handlers and the inspection of kitchen areas. Council members stated they wanted to insure the safety of the patrons while not over regulating the mobile units. Parking of the mobile units was a concern. One mobile food unit that will remain mobile is the ice cream truck. The ordinance will be on a council special session agenda October 16th.
