A gold star to members of Iola’s City Involvement Task Force.
Represented by Shilo Eggers, the CITF updated Allen County commissioners of their plan to make downtown Iola more inviting by placing 26 planters and six flower trees along three blocks of Madison Avenue and around the courthouse square.
“Our goal is to beautify the downtown area “ Eggers said.
Project cost is $9,000, of which CITF will provide $5,000. The remainder will come from a $2,000 grant, approved on a two-to-one vote Tuesday -— Commissioner Jim Talkington opposed — and from other sources, including $500 from Iola Police Department.
Eggers said two pots and two flower trees for the courthouse would cost about $1,400.
(Talkington favored that lower amount.)
City Administrator Sid Fleming said Iola crews would top off water reservoirs in the self-watering devices once a week or less, depending on weather conditions. Other maintenance, such as weeding and pruning, will be done by volunteers.
Local master gardeners and greenhouses also will be involved in the project. “We want to buy local as much as possible,” Eggers said.
The decorative planters will be on city right of way, but business owners will participate in deciding where to locate each, so as not to disrupt foot traffic.
BIDS FOR a new roof on the sheep barn in Riverside Park, an adjunct of the countywide fair each summer, were opened. No award was made immediately, to give County Counselor Alan Weber time to review the six received.
Commissioners earlier this year set aside $30,000 a year for five years to make repairs and upgrades to fair buildings. The sheep barn is the first project.
