| Moderated by: Steve Adkins | Topic closed | |
| Author | Post | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
S. Smith Moderator
|
The town owns a piece of property (just over an acre) on Summerfield Road, originally purchased for the municipal building/sheriff's department substation. Since the town council backed off from this project, what do you think should be done with this property? Should the town sell it? Build a new town hall? Create a small "pocket park"? Hold on to it as an investment or for some future use? Any other ideas? |
|||||||||||
|
PaulW Member
|
I believe Summerfield would benefit from having a designated wildlife habitat that can also serve as an educational center for its citizens. How to make this happen on this property would depend upon its current condition. If it is filled with trees, native plants, a water supply, etc. then little would need to be done. If there are few trees, we can obtain some seedlings at a low cost and have a community planting. Perhaps an old fashioned well with a manually operated pump and watering cans can be placed for visitors to water them during the first year. If it is overrun with exotic/invasive plants, they should be removed. These plants do not support our native wildlife, and they out-compete native plants that do. Many native plants can be grown from seed. An area can be tilled and seeded with a combination of perennials and annuals. This would need to be mowed once per year (late winter/early spring). The mowed material should be placed in a compost pile and used to improve the soil quality. A brush pile can provide cover for small animals and birds. A native vine can be grown over it to give it better aesthetics. If there is no water on the property, a small pond can be put in. A local school has one that is thriving. They dug a hole, lined it to retain water, and filled it with plants. Nesting boxes can be installed. I would be sure to include a bat box for mosquito control if there is a pond. (The pond would be sure to attract frogs and toads who would also keep the bug population in check.) Dead standing trees (snags) should be left intact, assuming it is not a safety hazard. These provide housing and insect food for cavity nesting birds. Fallen logs make good toad and salamander homes. At each of these features, a sign can be put in to explain its value to the ecosystem. Ultimately, the goal would be to inspire visitors to make their land more wildlife friendly. We can have this project certified as a wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. Depending on the current state of the property, this may be a small project and it may be a big one. If there is a lot of work to be done, then "developing" the property could be done in stages. I hope that there is interest in the community for such a project, and like minded people who would take an active role in making this happen. |
|||||||||||
|
S. Smith Moderator
|
Thanks for your input PaulW. I was beginning to feel ignored here! You've got some very interesting ideas. The property is just over an acre in size, so it is not very big. It is located on Summerfield Road beside the Fire Dept. It had a house on it, which the fire dept. burned for the town in anticipation of the town building a new town hall/substation there. I believe it does have a small creek running through it. Other than that, I believe the property is pretty much bare. I don't know about native plants because I haven't been that close to the tract lately, but I don't think there are any significant trees, etc. Anybody else have ideas? What do you think of what PaulW has suggested? |
|||||||||||
|
DOGGETTJA Member 
|
Paul- Could make the property into a mini park. For those of you who don't know the property is next to the Fire department and Rhodan Rd borders it on one side. A small piece just over an acre I think. It has a windy little creek but virtually no trees. Maybe the Town or us volunteers should think on this and see what we can come up with. Anybody else have any thoughtsWelcome to the forum Paul. Haven't seen you here before I don't think. |
|||||||||||
|
S. Smith Moderator
|
Jane, Could be a good job for the Conservation Council. Maybe follow PaulW's suggestions, and put in a little walking path and a couple of park benches so people could go sit down there and enjoy the wildlife (not their wild life!) and ponder life in Summerfield.  |
|||||||||||
|
Cracker Jax Member 
|
Welcome to the forum PaulW! You have offered forth some very good ideas, however In my opinion the fact that there are no trees, might not make that particular piece of property conducive to a wildlife park. This property is also located on a corner of two roads, one of those roads being very heavily traveled especially during school hours. I'd sure like to see a wildlife area at some other, perhaps more remote, area of Summerfield. Why not just put the municipal building there? Even though the Substation idea seems to have been dropped, I don't believe that the plans for a new town hall have. Now we may not have the employees to staff such a building by then, but we still need the meeting/storage space! |
|||||||||||
|
Cracker Jax Member
|
Sandra, you might want to scoot over to the CC forum afterwhile cause I think Lacka has a little "chicken bone" to pick with you! |
|||||||||||
|
S. Smith Moderator
|
Well, okay. I'm almost scared to after that invitation, but I'll be tough and go on over. |
|||||||||||
|
acook Member 
|
Cracker Jax wrote: "You have offered forth some very good ideas, however In my opinion the fact that there are no trees, might not make that particular piece of property conducive to a wildlife park." A quote from JFK speaks to this: "The great French Marshall Lyautey once asked his gardener to plant a tree. The gardener objected that the tree was slow growing and would not reach maturity for 100 years. The Marshall replied, 'In that case, there is no time to lose; plant it this afternoon!’” Actually the fact that there are no trees gives us the perfect opportunity to select native vegetation to plant, focusing the area to attract specific types of wildlife thereby creating a specific type of park. For example, we could create "Woodpecker Woods" , "The Butterfly, Bee and Bird Park" or "Finch Field." "This property is also located on a corner of two roads, one of those roads being very heavily traveled especially during school hours." What better place to have a wildlife park than near an area that is heavily traveled and close to a school? Folks need to see that people are not separate from but a part of nature. Human beings and wildlife can form symbiotic relationships that are beneficial to all. "I'd sure like to see a wildlife area at some other, perhaps more remote, area of Summerfield." I agree. I'd like to see wildlife habitats spring up all over Summerfield. I do not think they need to be or even should be relegated to the remote areas however. It is important to create wildlife friendly niches throughout urban and suburban areas. Urbanization and wildlife habitat need not be mutually exclusive. |
|||||||||||
|
ff12 Member 
|
is this property beside where SFD is going to build their training facility? |
|||||||||||
|
Cracker Jax Member
|
Welcome to the Forums acook! Glad you found your way here! You certainly make some valid points. And I agree with them. I wonder if the same type of thing could be done in our Summerfield Park?(Not the 911 tower Park) It is much closer to the school and only a hop skip and a jump down the road. I'll have to talk to some "park people" who know more about the park plans to see if something like that would be possible. Where then would you propose we put our new Town Hall? I guess I just thought that it would be nice to have the Town Hall built in the Town Core area and I am sure it will be a long time (if ever) before any more property will be acquired for the town's use. Lovely quote by the way. |
|||||||||||
|
Cracker Jax Member
|
Yes ff12. Not sure the birdies and the butterflies would enjoy all that smoke! (And we celebrated orange day for you over on M.A.A.N!) |
|||||||||||
|
DOGGETTJA Member
|
Yes ff12 right next door to the proposed training center. Lots of good points on the use of the property. Maybe we could have a Town hall with enviornmentally and wild life friendly landscaping. |
|||||||||||
|
ff12 Member
|
Thanks crackah i skipped over to the OR forum and next thing i know its Sat. Hate that i missed so much and my own celebration. |
|||||||||||
|
acook Member
|
ff12- I agree that a SFD Training Facility in close proximity would not be conducive to the formation of a wildlife/nature park. Cracker Jax- Thanks for the welcome. I like the idea of making a section of Summerfield Park a wildlife habitat. I also wonder if there are people in Summerfield who might be interested in pursuing certification by the National Wildlife Federation for Summerfield as a Town “Backyard Wildlife Habitat”? |
|||||||||||
|
acook Member
|
DOGGETTJA wrote:Yes ff12 right next door to the proposed training center. I like this idea. |
|||||||||||
|
Cracker Jax Member
|
I like Jane's idea too! |
|||||||||||
|
PaulW Member
|
When I originally posted, I did not know that the SFD was going to have a training facility next to this property and that the town was planning on building a new Town Hall. In light of that, I would not push for a wildlife habitat as the sole use for this space. If a new Town Hall is to be built I am all for the landscaping to be done in a wildlife/environmentally friendly fashion. If Summerfield Park can be built and maintained in a wildlife friendly fashion, in part or in whole, I am all for it. (Ironically, several months ago my fiancee and I went to Town Hall expecting a meeting of the Conservation Committee. As we were the only people there, and Town Hall was locked, we walked around a bit and commented on the presence of exotic plants. We decided that we would call the Conservation Committee meeting to order, and unanimously agreed that we should recommend to redo the landscaping emphasizing more native and wildlife friendly plants.) On that note, I don't know if I have much else to say on the topic of this particular parcel of land. I do have some ideas for the Conservation Committee, but I will direct that towards another thread as I don't want to direct this one away from the original topic. |
|||||||||||
|
Cracker Jax Member
|
I am sorry you attended a meeting that had probably been moved to another location. This happens a lot unfortunately since there is no longer much meeting space in our town hall. Paul, feel free to join us on any of the Topics! We appreciate your input! Don't be a stranger! |
|||||||||||
|
Billyboy Member
|
Unfortunately, I believe that 'code' restrictions on public/commercial buildings don't permit all of these ideas to come to fruition. Modern building codes dictate everything, right down to way parking lots are to be built, the size of islands and spacing of these within parking lots, and even the species, sizes, and spacing of shrubbery that can and can't be planted in and around buildings. And also, you have to put in a pond to breed mosquitos, too! Kind of depressing. |
|||||||||||
|
Cracker Jax Member
|
Wow.. that does stink Billyboy! Thanks for the info... I am glad you told us before we got our hopes up!
|
|||||||||||
|
S. Smith Moderator
|
Welcome to the forum, acook. You have some great ideas. Even though they might not be suitable for this particular piece of property, they might somewhere. I think your point that natural habitats are needed in all kinds of areas, even (maybe especially) where development is occurring is a good one. When my husband and I first married (more than 20 years ago) and were dirt poor, we rented a little house along one of the busiest sections of Wendover Ave. in Greensboro (near Hill St., between Battleground and Church St.). Being avid bird watchers, we fed the birds and it was incredible, even at that location, the amount of wildlife in the area. Although we never saw anything large like deer, we had an amazing amount of all types of birds, rabbits, squirrels, etc. One night as a sat in the back yard in the dark, enjoying the summer evening (and the sound of 6 lanes of roaring/screeching traffic just on the other side of the house), I nearly fell out of my lawn chair as something trotted almost right up to me. What I first thought was the neighbor's dog was the biggest possum I have ever seen. |
|||||||||||
|
S. Smith Moderator
|
acook and PaulW (or anyone else who knows), What does it take to get certified as a Natural Wildlife Habitat? Also, as I understand it, much of the Summerfield Park area will be left natural. Jane Doggett is a member of the Conservation Council (DOGGETTJA on this forum), and even though I believe they are inactive at this time, your participation might get them started back up. Also, you might have some ideas worthy of incorporating in the park. If you don't get involved in the Conservation Council, the Parks & Rec committee might also be a good fit for you. |
|||||||||||
|
PaulW Member
|
NWF certification requires 4 things. Food, water, shelter, and a place for wildlife to raise their young. This can (probably) be accomplished as easily as installing/maintaining a bird feeder, a bird bath, and a bluebird nesting box. We all can do a lot more, though. While not necessarily a requirement for certification, landscaping that emphasizes the native plants that the native wildlife has counted on for hundreds of years is highly recommended, and really is one of the best things that can be done. Keeping the food web intact is also of great importance. NWF certification can be done on 2 different "levels". The first is by having your own backyard certified (as we have done ours, as you can do yours, as can likely be done with the park). The next level is community certification, which would take a lot more work. For more information, visit http://www.nwf.org You would also want to go to this link for your own habitat: http://www.nwf.org/backyardwildlifehabitat/createhabitat.cfm And here for community habitat information: http://www.nwf.org/backyardwildlifehabitat/community.cfm In my view, the best thing that comes from this is in raising community awareness regarding our impact on our world around us. We have people come up to our house on a regular basis and ask about our habitat. |
|||||||||||
|
Skiddles Member 
|
I like the idea of preserving wildlife habitats in the Summerfield park along with planting shrubs and trees to promote and invite more, great suggestion. acook wrote:I also wonder if there are people in Summerfield who might be interested in pursuing certification by the National Wildlife Federation for Summerfield as a Town “Backyard Wildlife Habitat”? Yes, I would for one, but don't know that much about it. I saw 2 Plaited woodpeckers in my neighborhood just last week. This was so exciting to me!! |
|||||||||||
|
Skiddles Member
|
Paul, you must have read my mind, thanks for this information!! |
|||||||||||
|
Skiddles Member
|
Paul.. I bet the people on the parks committee would be very interested in finding out more about this. |
|||||||||||
|
Bubba Guest
|
Thanks Paul This is the great thing about this forum! The community working together to make our community and world a better place.  |
|||||||||||
|
PaulW Member
|
Thanks for all of the positive feedback. I've emailed the folks at the parks and rec. committee and asked them to read this thread. |
|||||||||||
|
Skiddles Member
|
Good Idea Paul... WAY TO BE PROACTIVE!! I think they are meeting this week ~~ 1/12. |
|||||||||||
|
PaulW Member
|
I am not sure about the meeting(s) on 1/12. I have heard that there is a Parks and Recs meeting, as well as a Town Council meeting due to the recent resignations of the Town Planner and the Town's Attorney. |
|||||||||||
|
DOGGETTJA Member
|
Paul- Both meetings are on for that night. You might call Sue Beeson/Chairperson and ask to present at Parks your proposal. She is in the phone book on Summerfield RD. under Jimmy Beeson I think. |
|||||||||||
|
DOGGETTJA Member
|
PaulW I gave you the wrong info. Sue is James Beeson on Meaderis Rd. |
|||||||||||
|
FatPappy Member 
|
Acook and PaulW, I'm catching up on my reading. Just wanted to welcome you both to the forum! Thanks so much for your excellent input. Please keep it coming! |
|||||||||||
|
Steve Adkins Member 
|
PaulW wrote:
PaulW.........what a wonderful suggestion. I had no idea this existed. We have a wooded lot, we have had a tremendous amount of enjoyment watching squirrels, frogs, deer, owl, guineas, and yes even snakes on the property, I will seriously consider registering for this certification. Thank You. |
|||||||||||
|
Skiddles Member
|
My yard has now been certified as a wildlife backyard habitat. Thanks PaulW for this information. I can't wait to receive my certificate and other in the mail. |
|||||||||||
|
ff12 Member
|
How about a community garden. Everyone could get together and grow food and give the bounty to a food bank or create one in your community. This would be a great way to teach the kids that food doesn't grow on the grocery store shelves and sharing with those less fortunate. It would also show them what can be done when people work together(this could also work for certain grownups). |
|||||||||||
|
Cracker Jax Member
|
ff12... I'm liking you more and more every day!
|
|||||||||||
|
Lacka Member 
|
ff12, I like that idea. I do think that many would benefit. A food bank would be great. I know a lot of times we seem to look at Greensboro or the Triad when groups want to help out, I think we might have needs in our own little Tri Town Tri Town area. |
|||||||||||
|
acook Member
|
Congratulations Skiddles! Our yard was certified about a year ago and we've learned so much since that time. We keep adding to and refining the area. It's funny how your perspective changes. When we first moved onto the property one of our first yardwork tasks was to haul off the woodpile that the former owners had collected over the years. Now we find ourselves working to add brushpiles to the yard. I would love to work towards Summerfield's certification as a Backyard Habitat Community. Should I start a new thread to see who else might be interested? ff12- I think a community garden is an excellent idea. I work at the Greensboro Montessori School on Horse Pen Creek Road. We have permaculture gardens throughout the campus. All of our students contribute to our gardens...infant through 8th graders! They plan, plant and tend them. It's a wonderful experience. One of my favorite memories is of going into the garden to find the tops of the asparagus plants missing. I couldn't figure out what could have happened to cause the top three or four inches of a four foot tall plant to disappear. The next day I noticed one of the 8th grade boys casually walking by an asparagus plant, bending down and chomping off its little green shoot. Several other students were grazing in the same manner. It was a hilarious sight. You are correct in saying that "[it] would be a great way to teach the kids that food doesn't grow on the grocery store shelves" and a community food bank is a wonderful way to give back to the people in our neck-of-the-woods! |
|||||||||||
|
Lacka Member
|
Kids eating asparagus????? |
|||||||||||
|
Cracker Jax Member
|
Mine eat it like candy Lacka. Go figure... wouldn't touch it myself. I think the food pantry is a wonderful idea! I know my mother-in-law's church on the other side of GSO has an ongoing one that is frequently used. Do any of our area churches do this? |
|||||||||||
|
Lacka Member
|
Crackah, I cannot believe that your kids eat asparagus. I love it myself and eat it several times a week, I have to subsitute something else for them. YUK they say. I have even tried making a TeePee or a forest of trees out of the stuff and they just gag. I know I know Steve, give me the off topic sign. Back to the topic, does anybody know how a community garden runs. This really sounds interesting. |
|||||||||||
|
macca Member 
|
Crackah, There are about a dozen churches that are part of Good Samaritan Ministries in Stokesdale. They have a pantry program as well as do special things for families around the holidays. They are the ones who sponsor the "Angel tree" in Stokesdale. There may be similar programs in Summerfield and Oak Ridge, I don't know. |
|||||||||||
|
Vicki White-Lawrence Member 
|
There are also local churches who plant crops to be given to programs that feed people. Some of these are affiliated with the Society of St. Andrew, a gleaning program specifically set up to harvest extra crops, and some just do their own harvesting and share locally. I've written about a couple of these programs in the paper. One was organized by a family and the other was by a small church outside Stokesdale. As macca said, there may be other churches in our area who do this same thing. I don't know how community gardens work but would be glad to help explore it.... |
|||||||||||
|
Lacka Member
|
Vicki I would love to hear more about how they work if you find any info. |
|||||||||||
|
Skiddles Member
|
Thanks for the congrats acook!! I have a few acres of land, most remaining in it's natural state. At my home we have everything from song birds & butterflies to deer, turkeys, fox, pilliated woodpeckers (sp), frogs, turtles.... and more! It is a joy to watch the wildlife for me. After reading the NWF website it helped me understand how I could further preserve my little slice of heaven and support our wildlife. I agree a garden would be a wonderful addition to our community and it certainly would act as a teaching tool for many. What better lesson in life is to learn how things start and grow... on many levels. This experience could nurture the spirit of giving in our town. Yes, start a thread on parks in Summerfield. It would be a good thing, as I have seen many written commits on this forum about parks, but they aren't all in one spot. |
|||||||||||
|
acook Member
|
Let's continue this discussion at "Summerfield Naturalists." |
|||||||||||
|
PaulW Member
|
Steve and Skiddles, One of my favorite things about being certified is being able to use the enature.com website to update our lists of wildlife seen on the property. This week we added flying squirrels. |
|||||||||||
|
Steve Adkins Member
|
Lacka wrote: I know I know Steve, give me the off topic sign. OK Lacka, you asked for it, here it is  Last edited on Jan 12th, 2006 02:33 am by Steve Adkins |
|||||||||||
|
Lacka Member
|
Well I knew you would catch me so I thought I would make your job easier.  |
|||||||||||
|
StewartM Member 
|
Cracker Jax wrote:
Who is in favor of a new Town hall ??? |
|||||||||||
|
DOGGETTJA Member
|
I am in favor of a Town Hall. We need room to hold meetings and since the upstairs of the Britain building has been converted to offices there is no where to hold a meeting in the building comfortably if there are more than 5 or 6 people. The Down stairs of the Brittain building could all be used for as a museum and educational area for the schools. I am in favor of building it on the piece of land the Town owns in "down town" Summerfield which is large enough to do that and have parking also. Could also possibly work out agreements with the surrounding businesses to use their lots for over flow. |
|||||||||||
|
Cracker Jax Member
|
I AM IN FAVOR OF A NEW TOWN HALL! To quote my dear friend FatPappy..... YES PARK! YES TOWN HALL! YES SUMMERFIELD! (I think that's the way the quote went....) |
|||||||||||
|
FatPappy Member
|
Cracker Jax wrote: YES PARK! YES TOWN HALL! YES SUMMERFIELD! You got it Crackah, ol' buddy! |
|||||||||||
|
Starcatchr Member 
|
YES PARK! YES TOWN HALL! YES SUMMERFIELD!
|
|||||||||||
|
Starcatchr Member
|
The property would surely be the most practical place for our Town Hall, not only because we own the land, but also because it is near other public buildings (fire station, existing Town Hall)and within town core. The Brittain Building is wondrfully renovated and a jewel for the town, but it is certainly not adequate for municipal offices and town meetings. The museum was great - let's bring it back! |
|||||||||||
|
Cracker Jax Member
|
Ditto Starcatchr! In today's issue of the NWO, Summerfield residents were asked to EMAIL their opinions about whether or not we support the town moving forward on the park in Summerfield. Please take time to do this to show support for our park! Let's show our council that we want our park! email cindy@nwobserver.com By MONDAY Jan. 23! Last edited on Jan 21st, 2006 01:47 am by Cracker Jax |
|||||||||||
|
acook Member
|
YES PARK! YES TOWN HALL! YES SUMMERFIELD! It would be nice for the architectural style of the new Town Hall to remain in keeping with the traditional style of several of the other buildings in the town core. |
|||||||||||
|
S. Smith Moderator
|
The plan for the town hall/substation building was designed to be reminiscent of the old Summerfield train station. That design might be able to be scaled down somehow if the substation part isn't needed. I don't live in Summerfield, but I did like the design -- I'm definitely a sucker for historic buildings. Mike Stewart was on the building committee, so he could give more details about the design. You guys have come up with some great ideas here! I love the community garden. |
|||||||||||
|
acook Member
|
I'm a "sucker for historic buildings" too. Thanks for the compliment. Drop by the next Parks & Rec meeting on February 9. I'll be presenting a proposal for several "greening" projects for Summerfield, including one idea for a community garden. |
|||||||||||
|
Starcatchr Member
|
Right on acook! I hope to be at that meeting! |
|||||||||||
|
StewartM Member
|
S. Smith wrote: The plan for the town hall/substation building was designed to be reminiscent of the old Summerfield train station. That design might be able to be scaled down somehow if the substation part isn't needed. I don't live in Summerfield, but I did like the design -- I'm definitely a sucker for historic buildings. The plans can be viewed at Town Hall...It is design like the old Summerfield train station and can easily be scaled down......All it needs is a OK vote from council.................. Can we have a VOTE please |
|||||||||||
|
Skiddles Member
|
YES PARK! YES TOWN HALL! YES SUMMERFIELD! |
|||||||||||
|
FatPappy Member
|
Skiddles wrote:
Me too! |
|||||||||||
|
Cracker Jax Member
|
FatPappy wrote: Skiddles wrote: Me three! |
|||||||||||
|
S. Smith Moderator
|
I know there's been no discussion on this topic for a while, but I thought maybe I'd bring it back up. At a recent meeting, Councilwoman Becky Strickland tried to convince the other council members to sell the property on Summerfield Road. The discussion got rather heated when Councilman Bob Williams suggested they instead keep the property and build a new town hall on it. What do you think? Do you agree with Strickland, with Williams, or do you have another idea for this property? |
|||||||||||
|
Cracker Jax Member
|
Even though I know the "Pit Bull" was serious ("as a heart attack", I believe he said in response to her question asking if he was serious) about resurrecting the municipal building issue, I am so happy that he chose to bring it up in an open meeting. From what I hear, he really got a rise out of B.S. (What a knee slapper!!) ok.. aside from the obvious thrill I got out of that, I once wrote a lengthy post describing in detail the current town hall, what goes on there, and the cramped conditions within. Our town is growing. The employees shouldn't have to trip over furniture and office equipment. We need more space. We need a place where a town meeting can be held and citizens can attend without breaking the fire regulations. Meetings are often moved at the last minute to accomodate the expected crowd. People shouldn't have to wonder where a meeting will be held. We need a municipal building. Way back before "Black Tuesday" (The day the CC's were elected), I think a lot of effort was put into confusing the citizens into believing that the municipal building and the Sheriff's substation were one and the same just because they would have been housed in the same building. I would like for the citizens to understand that they were two different issues entirely. Support of a new town hall has nothing to do with BJ's boys coming out here and watching out for us. As for WHERE we build the municipal building, I don't care. I just think we should have one. As for the land, why sell it? It's ours. It's an investment that will only appreciate and can be sold if we ever need to replenish our funds. What's the hurry??? Why sell it now??? Do you think B.S. has something in mind to do with the money or do you think she's really afraid that if she doesn't get rid of it, Williams' dream of a municipal building could become a reality??? |
|||||||||||
|
DOGGETTJA Member
|
Cracker- There is plenty of room to build the Town Hall on the piece of property that the Town now owns. In Fact there probably was enough room to put the substation there also at the time that was being contemplated. We were getting so much flak about the substation that nobody bothered to see if a different configuration for the well and septic system could have been arrived at. The architect believed we would have been sucessful. The council dropped the subject because at the time it appeared there was nobody for it. I agree the Town does need a Town Hall. It is embarrassing that a Town our size has no place large enough to hold a committee meeting with more than 7 or 8 people besides not having room for the planner to work properly. She is involved in million dollar projects with no table big enough to spread out on or if she does then she has to move eveything if there is a meeting to be held in that room. I believe if we are going to have a Town Hall we people who believe it is a good idea will again need to do what we did with the budget and those of us who want it to happen campaign our council to see if we can make it happen. |
|||||||||||
|
Baseball Buddy Member 
|
The biggest concern (notice I used concern) with the plan for a municipal building was housing a sheriff's substation and people thinking (the CC's) that it was going to cost extra for BJ's boys to look after us. We need a new, larger, better designed town hall. I for one feel this needs to happen. Let's all get together and help 'Ol Bulldog make it happen!! |
|||||||||||
|
FatPappy Member
|
We definitely need a bigger town hall! (By the way, do your legs twitch when you're sleepin' like you're dreamin' o' chasin' a chicken? Hee hee!) |
|||||||||||
|
Steve Adkins Member
|
DOGGETTJA wrote: I agree the Town does need a Town Hall. Agreed Jane, this subject shoud be resurrected. The town is growing, we need another 3 - 2 vote to get a Town Hall going. |
|||||||||||
|
StewartM Member
|
Lets do it........ |
|||||||||||
|
S. Smith Moderator
|
Would the idea be for just a municipal building this time? Or would it be to resurrect the municipal building/substation combination? |
|||||||||||
|
StewartM Member
|
Municipal building only |
|||||||||||
|
Cracker Jax Member
|
I absolutely agree with Mike. Let's concentrate on the Municipal Building. |
|||||||||||
|
DOGGETTJA Member
|
Me three on municipat building only. I think I heard from somebody that a place for the sheriff is in the works but dang if I can remember who told me or where it was. Unfortunately I think the sheriff substation is a dead issue for Summerfield. I still think the citizens in Summerfield would have benefitted greatly but oh well. Now as to the municipat building I think there is an architect rendition of a building already. We need to get people interested in getting the Town Council on the program. Anybody have any ideas on how to do this? |
|||||||||||
|
Baseball Buddy Member
|
I'll give 100% of my support for a new Town Hall. Keep in mind, Look for a piece of property with room for expansion for future use. There are properties out there but, will the town be willing to purchase this prime property for such use? Let's make this happen soon before all the property is bought up. They just don't make any more of it around these parts. Food for thought. |
|||||||||||
|
zippitydoodah Member
|
Baseball Buddy wrote: I'll give 100% of my support for a new Town Hall. Keep in mind, Look for a piece of property with room for expansion for future use. There are properties out there but, will the town be willing to purchase this prime property for such use? Let's make this happen soon before all the property is bought up. They just don't make any more of it around these parts. Food for thought.Buddy, the town owns that property on Summerfield Rd. (at the corner of Rondan rd.) Thats what BS wanted to sell. |
|||||||||||
|
S. Smith Moderator
|
DOGGETTJA wrote: Now as to the municipat building I think there is an architect rendition of a building already. We need to get people interested in getting the Town Council on the program. Anybody have any ideas on how to do this? Jane, would the town be able to use this architect's drawing, since it included the substation? Of course, the town might want to go on and build it and maybe rent out unneeded space. That's what Oak Ridge is planning to do. They said they were planning for 50 years into the future. I think they're going from renting something like 1,000 s.f. to a 9,700 s.f. building. |
|||||||||||
|
FatPappy Member
|
Yes suh an' yes ma'am, we been needin' a municipal buildin' fer some time now! I gather some people think addin' that new door to the Recreation Center fixed the problem. It's a nice door an' all, but it ain't no door to the future. It's just a door to the same ol' short-sighted, penny wise an' pound foolish CC way o' thinkin'. Suppose you have a flat tire on your truck. Suppose the hole in that tire is so big that no patch will cover it an' the tire just will not hold air! Without a tire that will hold air, your truck can't go very far an' the cargo you're haulin' just sits there. The solution? There are two choices: A. Buy a new tire an' get on with bidness. B. Claim the tire is not the problem. The problem is the air goin' in the tire. If we stop tryin' to put air in the tire, then we don't have to worry about the hole in the tire an' we won't "waste" money on a new tire. Which should we choose? (Hint: The argument for solution B just won't hold air. Even if'n it's a lot o' hot air.) Last edited on Jul 4th, 2006 01:23 pm by FatPappy |
|||||||||||
|
DOGGETTJA Member
|
I think there is a architect rendition with the second floor or basement depending how you look at it of the building left out. It possibly would make sense to leave the building the size it is and have room for possible expansion. As I remember it the well/septic issue was the potential of the sheriff having all the officers in the building at one time which according to sheriff office never happens but the system has to accomodate that number anyway. If the building was built to accomdate less people then the septic might not be an issue. The lot is 1.2 acres I think and at one time there was potential to buy more but of course due to the enormous hate campaign going on at the time that issue was never followed up on. I think the current lot is perfect for a town hall. Right there on Summerfield road next to the fire station. The architect rendition is mineful of the old depot that use to be in that area when the train stopped in Summerfield. A lot of historical significance and would also give a center to the whole area. Pappy I love your tire analogy. You have such a talent for being able to see unusual solutions to problems. Maybe all that moon shine helps? |
|||||||||||
|
FatPappy Member
|
S. Smith wrote:Of course, the town might want to go on and build it and maybe rent out unneeded space. That's what Oak Ridge is planning to do. They said they were planning for 50 years into the future. I think they're going from renting something like 1,000 s.f. to a 9,700 s.f. building. Interestin' idee, Sandra! 50 yars from now is gonna be here in a few yars. By the way, what's that "p" word you were usin'? P-p-p-plan-ning? That's not in some folks' vocabulary! Hee hee! Didn't somebody (a lawyer or somethin') tell us it was illegal fer a town to rent out space an' anybody who proposes such is married to the devil or somethin' like that? Or maybe the argument was it's a "political" municipal buildin' built in a "political" entity called Summerfield. I cain't keep it straight. Or was it somethin' about an alien invasion? I don't know... Maybe Dunkin' Donuts would want to rent out some space. |
|||||||||||
|
FatPappy Member
|
DOGGETTJA wrote:Pappy I love your tire analogy. You have such a talent for being able to see unusual solutions to problems. Maybe all that moon shine helps? Much obliged, Jane. I 'preciate y'all keepin' us straight on the details. This is a important project that we really need to get goin' ag'in. By the way, it ain't the shine, it's clean livin'. Hee hee! |
|||||||||||
|
StewartM Member
|
The Town has a full set of drawings already to put out for bids. The only thing to change is in the 2/3 of the basement (that would have been the substation), Leave it unfinished for the future. The plans are paid for and ready to build. All we need is a vote. The money is in the bank........ |
|||||||||||
|
FatPappy Member
|
Pappy likes the sound o' that, Mr. Mike! The load o' farwood's been cut, the track's been laid...let's get this train a-movin'! Maybe the NWO can publish a pitcher of what it will look like. Do the plans call fer enough room in the basement to store all Mom's copier supplies? She really needs her own substation to adequately cover her territory. I don't think her young'uns have been he'pin' her much lately. |
|||||||||||
|
StewartM Member
|
Pappy the basement does have a file storage room....The town would save money by not having to paid anymore for their off site storage..... |
|||||||||||
|
Waytago Member 
|
Now that's thinking ahead.........building a F.O.I.A. room right into the plans !!! |
|||||||||||
|
FatPappy Member
|
Waytago, I'm a-reckonin' F.O.I.A. stands fer Freedom of Information Act. (Sorry, Pappy don't play a lawyer online, I play a ol' coot. Hee hee.) We might need a padded room fer poor ol' Michael Brandt in them plans. Does anybody know if'n the town charges fees fer fulfillin' FOIA requests based on a person's ability to pay? I understand fees are charged at the federal level. I'll look into it when I get a minute, but I figger somebody might know right off. |
|||||||||||
|
StewartM Member
|
Its a low material only fee .....no labor..... |
|||||||||||
We really need a few more mosquitos 'round here!