Soon a trip to Depot Park should be a cleaner experience for its visitors.
The City of the Village of Clarkston council, at their Monday, July 28 meeting, approved the purchase of two dispensing supply stations for scooping dog droppings, at the request of Department of Public Works Supervisor Bob Pursley.
Pursley said he fields two to three citizen complaints a week regarding an abundance of piles in the park.
“It’s also a health concern to people,” council woman Anne Clifton said.
The stations are on a post, buried in the ground, with a receptacle and dispenser which comes with 800 baggies mounted to the post. A sign also comes with the order.
The units had been pricey in the past, Pursley said, but have since come down.
After searching, Pursley found a Florida company selling the dispensers for $299, including shipping. Other companies Pursley found charged $299 plus shipping.
Pursley said he wanted two units, placing one on each side of the river in visible spots.
Mayor Sharron Cattalo said she thought the idea was worthwhile, and offered to purchase one out of her own pocket. The city will pay for the other.
The council is hoping residents will take advantage of the dispensers for a cleaner park experience for everyone.
Also at Monday’s meeting:
•The council approved an increase for gazebo rentals for weddings and such at Depot Park.
City Manager Art Pappas said the city has charged $100 for years, while other communities currently charge $300 to $400. He suggested raising the rental fee to $200.
“I think people will look at this as a bargain,” Clifton said.
The approved fee increase will only apply to new bookings. Pappas said he already has weddings booked into 2004.
•The council also approved the purchase of landscaping at the Washington and Main streets municipal parking lot for a cost of $19,528.
Consultant Gary Tressel of Hubbel Roth and Clark said the landscaping should be completed before Labor Day, after the ongoing construction is completed on Washington. Part of the parking lot is currently being used to stage construction equipment and will remain that way for approximately two to three weeks, Tressel noted. Plans will be presented at the next meeting for repaving of the parking lot.
The landscaping will include adding two trees, daylilies, a small fence to keep pedestrians out of the landscaping, and more.
Tressel said the purchase is covered in the city’s budget.
Clifton was the lone negative vote. (Councilman Dan Colombo was absent). She felt the city should hold off on the landscaping of the middle island in the parking lot, costing the city an extra $3,000.