(Atlantic) The Atlantic Park Board, during a Special Meeting this afternoon, approved a request to install memorial benches.
Ed & Lois Figgins requested putting two memorial benches on Bull Creek Pathway for their sons near their house. The Board approved the request as long as they work with the Parks and Recreation Department for placement.
The Park Board removed an agenda item for consideration of recommendation to the City Council to place on the November 2023 ballot the increase of Hotel/Motel Tax from 4-percent to 7-percent. City Clerk Barb Barrick explained the reason for removing this item.
The Board then discussed creating two separate informational brochures; one for the Splash Pad and one outlining the details and goals of the Hotel/Motel Tax. The Park Board would like to emphasize once again that the two do not have anything to do with each other. The Splash Pad will be funded by donations, NOT the Hotel/Motel Tax.
During the public comment portion of the meeting, the Board heard from Carol South, one of the owners of Turkey Creek Lodge, who questioned why other people should pay for the Parks and Recreation amenities.
South suggested giving the new Parks and Recreation Director time to work and show what he can do with parks and rec funding; bring people to town to use the amenities, to stay in the hotels and let the hotels bring in some money so they can give more, and they would not be fighting this.
Meanwhile, City Clerk Barb Barrick presented some data to the board regarding the Local Option Sales Tax that the park receives, as well as some legislation in the pipeline regarding the property tax relief bill and a companion to that bill and how that would impact the parks. You can hear her full report here:
