Abby OKs park projects at Schilling subdivision

The Abbotsford city council convened for their monthly board meeting on Monday, and among the actions taken is something sure to make sports and dog enthusiasts happy.

The council gave department of public works supervisor Craig Stuttgen permission to make a pickleball and basketball courts, as well as install fencing for a dog park, on park property of the Schilling subdivision. As for the dog park, the council wanted Stuttgen to get a price for a fence for a dog park.

That will have to be brought back to council for approval before a dog park can go in.

“If you look at this basketball court and the pickleball court, if everyone is OK with containing this portion of the park, what I’d like to do for this year is get the basketball court and the pickelball court done,” Stuttgen said.

Helping the council reach this decision was the fact that Stuttgen said the city’s public works crew could do the job cheaper on their own than what engineering firm MSA had estimated.

“When we were doing budgeting we talked about $150,000 roughly for that,” Stuttgen said. “The reason I picked out these two projects was you start to use federal grant money, there’s so much fluff and so much waste that you don’t get near as much bang for your buck.”

Stuttgen suggested having Abbotsford’s department of public works take care of the project. His reasoning being that it would save the city money, and it could be completed more quickly.

“I went through this estimate that we had gotten from MSA, and their cost for the two courts was $69,000 to pour those in four inch. Kenny Bruesewitz has all the equipment to do it and then our crew works with them on concrete projects. So what I did is made an estimate to do it at four inch at cost would be $33,000. At five inch it would be $39,000.”

Stuttgen recommended a five inch pour to give it more resiliency and room for rebar to go in. “With that being said, we can save $35,000 by just having our own crew to do it and doing the work that way.”

Stuttgen also compiled a list of other ways the city could save money relating to excavation costs, turf restoration and under drain. All told, Stuttgen estimated that if the city of Abbotsford’s public works installed the two courts, they could do the entire project for $71,000, rather than MSA’s estimated $150,000.

Stuttgen said there were still some projects that had to be done by outside contractors, such as asphalt and making restrooms. Alderman Dale Rachu wondered what people would do for restrooms, and if people would abuse the park and be there after hours.

Interim administrator Josh Soyk suggested putting port-a-potties out, listing the hours and using standard rules to protect the park, such as closing it after dark.

“If you’re happy with the lay-out and think everything looks nice, once you vote, that’s where they’re going to lay them out,” Stuttgen said to the council. “It looks good to me.’ The council gave Stuttgen approval to begin the project once the weather accommodates for it, and have it ready for the summer.

Dog park coming too

Alderman Lori Huther also suggested the extra space in the Schilling subdivision might be good to turn it into a small dog park.

“How big is that area down below?” Huther asked, pointing to empty space south of the proposed court locations. “Is it big enough to fence it off and make it like a little dog park?”

Stuttgen said the lot would be over 50 yards, and said that if the council wants to turn it into a dog park, it was possible. “Whatever you vote on is what it will be,” Stuttgen reminded the council.

Huther told the council Abbotsford residents in the past had come to her requesting a dog park.

“I just know there have been a lot of people in the city who have kind of been questioning us about getting a dog park, and where we would put it in.”

Stuttgen had no issue with making the space into a dog park, but did have reservations about people abusing it, and not taking care of their dog’s waste.

Mason Rachu said the city should be clear about the rules, and Huther recommended having stations set up to allow people to grab bags and dispose of their dog’s waste.

“If people want to use that, they’d have to abide by the rules, and clean up their waste,” she said. “People that own a dog, I think, would be respectful of that, and there’s really no area to take the dogs right now.”

Mason Rachu recommended placing fencing around the space for the dog park, and run it adjacent to the park’s walkway.

Dale Rachu wondered how neighbors would respond to having a dog park nearby, but Mason said noise should be minimal.

“It’s not like it’s right next to the dog park is right next to the houses,” Mason said. “That property is already a park, so let’s give people a reason to play outside.”

_ The board made a motion to approve Sharon Archambo to the Abbotsford Public Library board of trustees for a three year term.

_ The board approved an aggreement for a district-wide mutual aid box alarm/system agreement.

_ A motion was made to approve the engineering proposal for a new concession stand at Red Arrow Park.

_ Senate candidate for the 23rd senate seat Jesse James introduced himself to the council.

_ The council’s next meeting will be on Wednesday, Feb. 16 at 6 p.m.