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Carbondale board restores $110,000 in parks capital — volleyball sand and pickleball shade/bleachers — and adopts 2026 budget
Summary
After public comment and trustee debate, the Board of Trustees reinstated $30,000 for Miners Park volleyball sand and $80,000 for engineered pickleball shade and bleachers, and then adopted the town’s 2026 appropriations and budget with those additions.
Trustees voted on Dec. 9 to restore two capital items to the 2026 budget — $30,000 for replacement sand at Miners Park beach‑volleyball courts and $80,000 for engineered shade structures and bleachers at the town’s pickleball courts — and then adopted the town’s 2026 appropriations and budget with those items included.
Background and public input: Staff had removed both items from an earlier draft budget; the town received multiple written comments and two public speakers at the Dec. 9 meeting. Alex Klausman, a local resident and regular beach‑volleyball player, urged the board to restore the sand so players throughout the valley could use local courts without long commutes. A geologist who has worked with the volleyball community explained differences in sand grain size and maintenance needs, and said properly selected sand should be long‑lasting.
Votes and motions: Trustee Ross moved to reinstate the $30,000 volleyball‑sand item into the 2026 budget; the motion passed unanimously. Trustee Jess then moved to reinstate the $80,000 appropriation for pickleball shade structures and bleachers; that motion passed 6–1 (Ross opposed).
Board debate: Some trustees urged a broader look at capital priorities and budget processes; others said parks and recreation amenities support community life and local economic activity (tournaments and regular play). Trustee Jess characterized the late‑stage removal of the items as appearing punitive to the parks program, noting that both items had been in prior packets and parks commissions had advanced them. Trustee Ross said the discussion helped clarify where capital and recreation funds sit in the town’s overall budget process.
Budget adoption: With the two items restored, trustees adopted Ordinance No. 7 (appropriations to funds and spending agencies) and Resolution No. 12 (summary of expenditures and revenues) for the 2026 budget; both passed unanimously. Trustees also approved Resolution No. 13 levying property taxes for 2026 and Ordinance No. 8 appropriating additional funds for the housing and trash funds.
What to expect: Staff will include the reinstated items in the final published budget and post the budget materials online. Trustees scheduled a Jan. 20 work session to review longer‑term capital priorities and to discuss budget structure and process.
