After disbanding the Parks and Trails Committee, the Jerome Township Trustees may still proceed with some work on area playgrounds despite objections from one member of the board.
Trustee Barry Adler said he does not feel the Roads Division should be contacting vendors for playground equipment given the decision to disband the Parks and Trails Committee, which he previously served on.
In May, Trustees Megan Sloat and Wezlynn Davis voted to disband the committee, both sharing the opinion that the vision for improving connectivity, parks and trails needed to be led by the trustees. From there, they said work should be facilitated by the township administrator, a position that is currently vacant.
Sloat and Davis also noted at the time that the township is seeking a consultant to lead an update of the Comprehensive Plan. They worried the Parks and Trails Committee would double efforts already being covered by that project.
During the regular trustees meeting Tuesday, Adler cited his fellow board members’ earlier reasoning in his opinion that local playgrounds should not yet be improved.
Davis, who serves as trustee liaison to the Roads Division, strongly disagreed.
She said she does not feel the same logic can be applied to the efforts of the Roads Division compared to the disbanded committee.
The Roads Division has identified a number of safety issues with existing equipment at the township’s playground and would like to replace it, Davis explained.
She said vendors for the equipment will provide renderings and specifications “at no cost” to the township. Davis said seeking this information falls under the responsibility of the Roads Division.
She noted, though, that she does not currently feel comfortable sharing details with the board.
“I’m not ready to bring any of this before the board,” Davis said.
Regardless, she said the Parks and Trails Committee differed in that it directed a staff member to inquire about American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars provided by the federal government during COVID-19, as well as contact design firms for estimates and concepts without board approval.
Adler said he took no issue with removing unsafe playground equipment. Instead, he said he did not feel it was appropriate at this time, given earlier decisions, to “upgrade” playground equipment.
Sloat aligned with Davis’ perspective, adding she feels the goal is just to make the playground equipment safe.
“If we remove the safety hazards (without replacing them), there won’t be a playground,” Sloat said.
Adler said he understood, but felt the best plan of action was to create a plan for improvement before taking any concrete steps. He said that could allow the township to investigate grant opportunities as well.
In response, Davis said she feels seeking a consultant is unnecessary because issues with the playground, such as rusty swings, are obvious to her.
“I don’t need a professional – I have eyes,” she said to Adler.
Sloat assured Adler that proposals will need to come before the board prior to work being done.
Davis asked Adler to “allow me to give you the information,” such as 3D renderings from vendors, before coming to a conclusion.
She added that Roads Superintendent Breht Fillinger still needs to speak with Fiscal Officer Robert Caldwell to determine whether upgrades and replacements are “financially feasible.”
Ultimately, Sloat said she saw no problem with proceeding with work surrounding the playground and does not feel it contradicts the decision to halt the Parks and Trails Committee.
“I think it’s two separate issues,” she said.