City officials have been discussing the replacement of the lighting at the local skatepark for many months and at their most recent regular meeting on July 11, the Winnemucca City Council approved a proposal for new lights and fencing around the electrical panel in a unanimous vote.
All members of the Council were present with Councilman Mike Owens present via web-call.
The project will cost $9,166 with the majority of the cost going towards the conversion of the lights to LED lights, according to proposals from CR Drake and Artistic Fence.
Major concerns regarding vandalism were expressed but officials agreed that a six-foot fence with barbed-wire on top of the fence around the panel that controls the lights would be a significant deterrent.
“We’re taking the precautions and we’re doing the best we can to light that park up for everybody and keep it from being vandalized,” said Councilman Vince Mendiola.
Local skate shop owner, youth mentor and regular skater, Nate Gusman, was present at the meeting to support the replacement of the lights and agreed that the fencing would be a great asset in preventing vandalism, as would the bright lights.
According to City Manager Alicia Heiser, the lights will remain lit through the night which may also help local police keep people out of the parks after they close at 10 p.m. and help keep areas used for hospital employee parking lit up as well.
Heiser also said the lighting replacement portion of the project can begin quickly but the fencing portion is likely to take longer.
In other Council news:
• The Council approved a street closure request by the Main Street Committee on Aug. 5 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. in order to host a street dance.
Councilwoman Pam Coats abstained from the vote due to her seat on the Mains Street Board.
• A request by Humboldt County officials to relocate the storage of City snow-removal equipment in order for the County to build a new Buildings and Grounds Facility on a jointly-owned property at Sage Heights was approved.
According to Humboldt County Manager Dave Mendiola, construction for the project will hopefully begin next spring.
• A proposal to enter into an agreement with Drake Rose and Associates for financial services was unanimously approved.
• The Council approved an annual request to satisfy requirements under Title VI Implementation Plan to satisfy the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Title VI non-discrimination requirements for those that have received federal and state financial assistance for public transportation programs.
• A proposal for Universal Engineer Services to perform professional geotechnical services that will help evaluate the potential locations and design of a new aquatics center.
• Multiple requests for zone change requests on Water Canyon Road and one on Paiute Street to be set to public hearing were approved.