The St. James Park Board approved a bid for improvements to the St. James Community Hall at its meeting Aug. 18.
The board received bids from Ellis Flooring and Staples for improvements.
For upgrades to the foyer and bathrooms, Staples bid $1,879.50 and Ellis Flooring bid $1,565. For replacement of flooring for the stage, Staples bid $3,065 and Ellis Flooring bid $2,550.
Staples bid a total of $4,944.50 and Ellis Flooring bid a total of $4,115.
The low bid was awarded to Ellis Flooring. Board member R.V. Ellis abstained from voting. The board noted the funds would be taken from the community parks budget.
Dr. Gerry Mitchell asked the board if a community health fair could be held in September at the Community Hall. Mitchell said he would like to organize the fair.
The board approved the fair with the requirement that vendors would not be charged for booth space.
Budgets were approved including the park, pool, summer sports and community park.
During the park director's report, J.R. Marcus noted a new scoreboard was donated by Phelps County Bank and would be used for the north field. The old board would be moved to the practice field and another new board, donated by Pepsi, is scheduled to be installed for the south field.
Marcus said the city is currently offering soccer sign ups for four-year-olds to those in sixth grade. Forms are available on the city's website, at the school district and at the recreation center.
Marcus noted the frame and roofs have been installed for new dugouts on the practice field and rails have been installed on the bleachers at the north field and horse arena by J Meurer and St. James High School students. A concrete bottom will be added to the new dugouts in fall by the Street Department. Meurer will also help build benches for the dugouts in the future.
The board discussed an update for the swimming pool construction. The board agreed to work on a plan of action for swimming pool activities in the following months.
