Council votes to repair Riverfront playground

HUNTINGTON -- The playground at Harris Riverfront Park took a major step Monday toward getting a facelift.

Huntington City Council unanimously voted to take $46,476 in federal Community Development Block Grant funds and use it for playground repairs. The CDBG money was initially allocated to fix a damaged fire truck, but the city's insurance company ended up paying for the repairs, Mayor David Felinton said.

The city now has about 80 percent of the funding to renovate the playground, said Deron Runyon, tax and loan manager for the Huntington-Ironton Empowerment Zone, who is helping the city with the project. The renovations will include replacing the playground's rubber surface, replacing broken or faded panels and repairing ramp supports.

Runyon said he plans on asking private foundations and conducting fundraisers to obtain the rest of the money needed to fix the playground.

Former City Councilman Tom McCallister said the playground repairs won't mean anything unless the city spruces up other parts of the park. The bathrooms are in deplorable condition, vandals continue to spray paint graffiti on buildings and park benches are in disrepair, he said.

Runyon said the city's plan to install security cameras at the park should deter criminal activity.

"The best kind of security is putting people there," he said. "People won't do stuff when there are crowds there."

Mayor David Felinton said his office has met with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers about preparing a new master plan for the park. The Corps might be able to provide half of the funding for the plan, he said.

Here's a look at other actions taken by the council on Monday:

PENSION BILL: The council voted unanimously to support a bill in the state Senate that would shore up underfunded municipal police and fire pension plans across the state.

Huntington spent about $1.3 million, or 6 percent, of its budget on pensions in 1993. This year, the city will spend $7.5 million, or 20 percent of its budget, on pensions. The city's annual contribution is scheduled to increase every year until 2018, when it reaches $16.1 million.

The proposed legislation would level out the city's payments, among other things.

The bill goes before the full Senate today. It still would need to gain approval from the House of Delegates.

PROPERTY TRANSFER: By a narrow 5-4 vote, the council approved transferring ownership of the Barnett Child Care Center building to the Huntington Municipal Development Authority.

The transfer eventually will allow the center to purchase the building so it can make renovations. The center wants to add a pre-kindergarten program as well as infant and toddler rooms, but needs to own the building to get a loan and state and federal grants to make the needed renovations, she said.

Some of the council members who voted against the bill -- Garry Black, Scott Caserta, Jim Insco, and Frances Jackson -- wanted a deed provision stating the property would revert back to the city if the building ceased operations as a daycare center.

David Harris, a member of Barnett's Board of Directors, said the provision would prohibit the center from getting financing for the renovations.

Council members Sandra Clements, Paul Farrell, Cal Kent, Mary Neely and Jim Ritter voted for the property transfer. Council members Teresa Loudermilk and P.D. Adkins were absent.

GUYANDOTTE STREETSCAPE: The council unanimously approved an ordinance authorizing a contract to continue work on the Guyandotte streetscape project on Main Street between 5th Avenue and Bridge Street. The $76,431 contract, which will be funded with federal CDBG funds, includes the installation of ornamental streetlights, concrete curbs and sidewalks.

SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENTS: The council unanimously approved an ordinance authorizing a $226,240 contract for new concrete curbs and sidewalks on Roby Road near Maupin Road and 200 handicap ramps throughout the city. The project will be funded by federal CDBG funds.

SANITARY BOARD: The council voted unanimously to re-appoint James Ashworth to the Huntington Sanitary Board.