Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks Playfield Restoration topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Ross council weighs full restoration of Ross Common amid debate over cost and timing
Summary
Council members, residents and youth-sports representatives urged a full restoration of Ross Common’s playing field; staff outlined five options ranging from minor maintenance to a $1 million full replacement and a grant-funded stormwater-infiltration concept. Council asked the citizens advisory committee for a recommendation before final appropriations.
The Ross Town Council debated whether to prioritize a full restoration of Ross Common, hearing detailed options and cost estimates from Public Works Director Rich Siminich.
Siminich presented five alternatives, from maintaining the status quo or a low-cost interim fix to a complete turf, subbase and irrigation replacement that would close the field for 12–18 months. He told the council the interim option would "cost only about 70 to $80,000 with an additional 10,000 a year for the additional maintenance and fertilization program" and that a full replacement was "estimated to be about $1,000,000." The public-works director also described a concept to pursue stormwater-infiltration grants that could substantially reduce town cost by co-locating stormwater treatment with the field reconstruction.
Public comment emphasized community support. Patrick Quigney, a Ross resident and Little League board member, said the initiative attracted local backing and potential donations: "It is a main concern for our community. It's the lifeblood of Ross." Ross School Superintendent David Rice told the council the school could adapt to closures and that the school would share maintenance costs under the existing 25% agreement.
Several council members urged caution on timing and funding. Mayor McMillan clarified the process: "We're not voting" at the meeting and framed the session as guidance to staff for the April budget workshop. Some council members said they favored a complete restoration if funding and planning allowed; others asked to wait for the citizens advisory committee report due before final appropriations.
The council directed staff to continue exploring grants (including EPA planning grants), gather comparative data from nearby projects, and report back with the advisory committee's recommendation so the project can be evaluated in the April–June budget cycle. No binding appropriation or final decision was taken at the meeting.
