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Struthers council considers modest sledding‑hill upgrades at parks, flags liability and admin review
Summary
Council members proposed mapping sledding hills at 5th Street, Mickler and Mill Creek parks for small upgrades (ropes, posts, signs), with rough cost estimates of about $250–$300 per hill and repeated requests for review by administration and the law director; no funding appropriation or vote was recorded.
Council members used part of the meeting to discuss potential winter‑time improvements to sledding hills at city parks, including 5th Street Park, Mickler Park and Mill Creek Park. The conversation focused on small, low‑cost safety and access upgrades such as installing posts and ropes, adding steps or signs to designate smaller hills for younger children, and clarifying signage about "sled at your own risk."
Speaker 2 provided a cost estimate and practical plan: "If I had to guess offhand, let's say we do 5 of those. It probably runs us $250 per hill," and described construction details including setting posts to about 30 inches and spacing rope posts roughly every 10 feet. Council members said volunteer labor and small donations could cover materials and that local groups like Rotary or businesses (one speaker mentioned "AstroShapes") might be approached for contributions. One council member estimated an overall enhancement project could total roughly $2,500 depending on how many hills were included.
Multiple speakers cautioned that enhancements could change maintenance and liability obligations. Several council members said the administration and the law director (referred to as "John" in the transcript) should review whether adding features or promoting sledding changes the city's liability, maintenance responsibilities or insurance exposure. "You have to make sure with John that that is a viable option," Speaker 2 said, noting that the city should not unintentionally take on new duties by improving sites.
Council agreed to a next step of physically visiting and mapping candidate hills, measuring distances and identifying where posts and ropes would be needed. Speakers described a simple materials plan (4x4 or 4x6 posts, concrete footings) and said the city staff's input on feasibility and liability would determine how far enhancements proceed. No appropriation or formal vote was taken; staff follow‑up and a future report to council were requested.
The meeting ended with a motion to adjourn recorded at the close of the session.
