Meigs County commissioners discussed plans to pursue playground equipment and a walking trail at Eastview Park and to seek bids for design and installation.

A county official said a playground grant cycle is opening and that the county can submit a pre-application or letter of interest; the grant would be a 50% match. The official described a small equipment package for a roughly 30-by-50-foot playground footprint (about 1,500 square feet) with a climbing structure, a swing and a seesaw and provided item cost estimates: a climber at $21,100, a bipod swing at $1,100 and a seesaw at $790. The official said the total equipment estimate came to about $71,100 per park and noted the county would be responsible for the 50% match if awarded.

Why it matters: the effort would fill gaps between Eastview and 10 Mile parks (Eastview already has a pavilion; 10 Mile has a walking trail). If awarded, a 50% grant could substantially reduce local capital costs for playground equipment and trail improvements.

Key discussion and details

- Grant and timeline: Staff said the grant pre-application is at an early stage and that TDEC (as referenced in the discussion) would review photographs and indicate whether the county meets minimum criteria before a full application is invited. Officials said an award would likely be announced by fall if the county applied this cycle.

- Cost estimates and match: Itemized equipment estimates were provided (climber $21,100; bipod swing $1,100; seesaw $790). The presenter reported a total equipment estimate of about $71,100 per park and said the grant would be a 50% match. The county official also said a two-park approach could require matching funds; exact county share figures were not computed in the meeting.

- Funding sources and budget authority: A participant noted the parks fund has funds available and estimated roughly $90,000 in the parks fund. Commissioners discussed whether to delay standalone local purchases until grant decisions were known to avoid installing equipment and then removing it if the grant were awarded.

- Procurement and thresholds: A commissioner noted that quotes for informational purposes can be obtained without formal commission approval and that formal sealed bidding and commission approval are required only when a project exceeds $25,000.

- Park committee next steps: The commission agreed to convene the park committee in February and to return with recommendations and cost estimates.

Outcome and next steps

No formal appropriation or vote occurred at the workshop. Commissioners directed staff to schedule a park-committee meeting, obtain cost quotes for playground equipment and walking-trail options (asphalt vs. concrete), and pursue the grant pre-application process. Staff will report back with recommendations and more detailed cost estimates at a future meeting.

Ending

The commission set a park-committee meeting in February to prepare recommendations and to refine cost estimates and procurement steps before any formal spending decision.