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Pittsboro parks board approves Fisher Hill seeding, playground and court repairs and tightens small‑purchase rule
Summary
The Pittsboro Parks Board approved up to $1,600 to seed Fisher Hill, voted to spend for swing and playground repairs and to repair basketball goals, and set a $1,500 threshold for streamlined small purchases, while receiving a detailed budget review showing tight reserves.
The Pittsboro Parks Board voted to plant a cover crop at Fisher Hill, authorize repairs and upgrades at multiple parks, and adopt a threshold for small purchases during its monthly meeting.
The board approved a motion to spend up to $1,600 to plant fescue at Fisher Hill to establish ground cover and reduce weed problems. "So I'm gonna make a motion that, that we could spend up to $1,600 to get that planted," the chair said during debate, and the board carried the motion by voice vote.
Why it matters: board members said establishing grass now will reduce ongoing farming costs and weeds and make the site easier to manage while they consider longer-term plans for the site, including whether the barn should be repurposed and a five‑year plan developed with county and state partners.
Budget and events: members spent the bulk of the meeting reviewing the parks' budget and event line items. A board member leading the budget review repeatedly warned that some recreation-event accounts were running high and that the board should watch overall reserves. The same member said the town’s geo‑bond balance was about $28,808 and that after committed items the board had roughly $9,500 available for discretionary projects.
Events staff reported strong early activity: the board was told the Daddy Daughter Dance had 218 registrants and was sold out. Members debated whether to move additional dollars into the July 4 budget; in the meeting the board later set the July 4 allocation at $7,500.
Repairs and capital work: the board approved several maintenance and capital items. It allocated up to $3,700 for replacement/update of swings at two parks after reviewing a Great Lakes Recreation quote, and it voted to authorize about $1,600 to buy jack assemblies and repair two basketball goals at Scammerhorn Park. A separate $3,600 playground installation was discussed as already approved to be paid from geo‑bond funds.
Staffing and small‑purchase policy: the board approved a yearly clothing allowance for maintenance staff (discussed at $500) and adopted a standing policy that purchases under $1,500 do not require a separate board motion, to streamline small repairs and purchases.
Other work and next steps: members discussed cracked and delaminating pickleball courts and agreed to pull contract files and have the city lawyer review warranties and past contracts before committing substantial funds. Board members also approved trimming (not topping) two trees that threatened playing fields and agreed to circulate a paid community survey and invite the consultant to present at the next meeting.
The board closed with instructions to gather concrete quotes and site measurements for a potential half‑court at Scott Park and to follow up on lighting, restroom and bench repairs. Several motions were passed by voice vote; specific roll‑call tallies were not recorded in the meeting transcript and are therefore not specified.
