Residents press fiscal court for park repairs and higher pay for parks staff

Multiple residents used the public-comment period to press the fiscal court to address deteriorating playground equipment, recurring mud and drainage that floods bathrooms, and to review the county’s pay scale for parks and sanitation workers.

Jimmy B., who works with parks and the jail crew, told the court he struggles to afford basic living costs and asked the court to consider higher starting wages for people doing field work. “All I’m asking out of this court is a fair wage,” he said, describing field conditions and heavy workloads.

Mandy, who had taken temporary oversight of park coordination, described specific safety problems at the old park: the twist slide’s bottom had separated, the walking loop has repeatedly washed out in floods, power and water are not hooked up in the pavilion, and playground surfacing was peeling and rusty in places. She and others requested a priority list of repairs, additional bearproof trash cans, replacement playground equipment (estimates cited up to about $25,000 for a full replacement), and improved trash cleanup after weekend events.

Court members acknowledged the problems and asked DJ and other staff to prepare a prioritized repair list, to explore grant opportunities for a sensory-play element, and to model across-the-board or targeted pay increases for presentation at a future meeting. The court did not take immediate action to change wages; DJ was directed to prepare cost options for consideration at the next meeting.

The exchange underlined public safety and equity concerns for staff who maintain parks and for families who use the facilities; the court committed to follow‑up and to look for grant opportunities and short-term fixes while larger replacements are pursued.