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Volunteers, donors and a $10,000 grant push Mount Orab playground forward; mayor to be authorized for minor purchases
Summary
A visitor outlined fundraising progress for the new playground—naming-rights discussions, donor tiers, $10,000 grant for toddler equipment and bench/picnic estimates—and council moved to authorize the mayor to approve peripheral purchases up to $1,000 per item and $5,000 total.
Visitor Mr. Myers briefed the council on plans and fundraising for the new playground, asked council to attend a July 30 groundbreaking, and presented donor and procurement details.
Mr. Myers said the sponsoring brochure offered naming rights to a $250,000 donor but that SORTA indicated it would leave naming decisions to the council. He described donor recognition tiers: donors of $1,000 or more will have names on donor signage; sponsorships of $5,000 to $10,000 include memorial park benches. "We have 8 of those that reach that goal. Six of those individuals have said yes," he said, and that an Ohio Children’s Foundation grant of $10,000 awarded on July 1 would cover bench purchases.
Mr. Myers detailed bench options: recycled material benches at about $725 each with a four‑week turnaround, and shipping and concrete pad costs. He also said some picnic tables and plaques might void manufacturer warranties, which is prompting alternative donor signage solutions.
Council discussed logistics and a member moved to grant the mayor authority to approve peripherals (benches, tables, locations) and incidental expenses not exceeding $1,000 per incident and $5,000 in total so the mayor can finalize small purchases without returning to council. Solicitor Christopher Moore said adopting a procedure allowing that delegation would be acceptable.
Mr. Myers also described fundraising and donated support for a pavilion (materials and labor pledged by local businesses, and an offer from Queen City Builders to construct the pavilion pro bono) and asked for permission to continue fundraising and place orders to meet manufacturers’ lead times.
The council indicated support for moving ahead with ordering benches and other items under the delegated authority and asked staff to follow applicable procurement rules.
