Herald Journal, June 14, 2004
Waverly renames park
By Lynda Jensen
After some discussion, the Waverly City Council designated the park along the Big Waverly waterfront as Legion Memorial Park Tuesday.
Two longtime members of the American Legion, Joe Herda and Myron Yager, and Post Commander Charlie Borrell, approached the council about the change.
Years ago, the Legion purchased beach property and donated it to the city for the park, with the understanding that the park be named “Legion Memorial Park,” Borrell noted.
The name should be brought back, Borrell said.
“Somehow, a grant got written in the '70s where the name “waterfront” was made up, and it stuck,” Borrell said. The reason for this was because a grant application was being made out, and the grant writer wanted to make it clear the park was owned by the city, not the Legion.
“I myself hired people to plant trees in the beach area,” commented Herda, who is a five-time post commander and 36-year Navy veteran. “I have money invested in that park.”
There is a stone that proclaims the park name as Legion Memorial Park, which the Legion would be willing to move to a more prominent spot without cost to the city, Borrell said.
It was noted that the Lions have its emblem on the side of the park building, which it contributed toward. Nevertheless, this was considered a separate issue from the land and the park name.
Toward the end of the discussion, Mayor Charlie Bush asked Borrell to have the Legion look at the Railroad Park property, saying it was currently a “no man’s land,” being designated as an outlot and dedicated as park land by the city.
The Legion uses the Railroad Park for Memorial Day events.
The Railroad Park could be sold down the road, Council Member Ken Hausladen said.
Council Member Pam Henry-Neaton agreed, saying a different council down the road might sell the property.
Crunching numbers for Village Hall
The council also heard a presentation about funding options for the Village Hall from Shelly Eldridge of Ehlers and Associates.
Currently, the city is trying to decide whether to do the remodeling project in phases, if it can incorporate other projects such as a new maintenance facility into the Village Hall project, and what kind of bond options may be available for maximum benefit while the rates are still favorable.
The council will set a special meeting to decide these issues at its next work session 4 p.m. Friday, July 9.
Livestock inside the city limits
The council also decided to make contact with a homeowner who is keeping a horse and colt in a dog kennel, inside the city limits.
Clerk Deb Ryks reported that there is no existing city ordinance that prohibits the arrangement.
“You mean I can raise chickens or pigs?” Bush asked incredulously.
“We’re going to be the laughingstock of Wright County,” said planning and zoning liaison Adrian Duske.
It was decided the horses probably constitute a public nuisance, even on the basis of smell, much less that the humane society would have a problem with it.
The matter should be dealt with while the city amends its animal control ordinance, it was decided.
Ryks reported the owner saying the arrangement would be for one week, and it was now three.
Back to Current Stories Menu | Back to Archives List