Residents propose veterans’ street banners; local contractor presses council on ball-field maintenance

Suzanne Rocha told the council she was representing a local veterans group and asked permission to pursue a banner program that would place individual veterans’ portraits on street-light banners during November and beyond. "To purchase a banner would be $140," Rocha said, adding that the group intends to raise funds so no veteran or family pays directly. Council members offered their blessing and several indicated they would help or consider buying banners themselves.

A separate public comment from Todd Ralph, owner of TNC Landscape Dirt Works and a local athletic-events promoter, focused on the condition of town baseball and Legion fields. Ralph reviewed work the town paid for previously and described maintenance tasks that have been missed, including edging, aeration, power raking, resodding worn pitcher-mound areas and irrigation timing. "I just really feel the lack of maintenance on these fields is really going backwards," Ralph said, and urged the council to consider reissuing the maintenance contract for bid in the coming budget season.

Parks staff described recent efforts — renting a power rake, purchasing a spike aerator and reseeding problem spots — and said some work remains pending until irrigation water is turned on and insulated boxes are installed over valves to prevent freezing. Council members discussed preparing requests for quotes and further internal discussions before making a budgeting decision.

Both speakers framed their requests as community-benefit projects: Rocha emphasized honoring veterans; Ralph noted that well-maintained tournament fields can drive regional visitation and local revenue. Council members generally supported the veterans-banner fundraising and asked staff to follow up on maintenance-cost estimates and contracting options ahead of the next budget cycle.