South Central Reporter

City of Centralia Historic Preservation Commission met March 13.

Here is the agenda provided by the commission:

I. Call to Order

Jones __X__ Agee __X__ Young __X__ Pracht _____ Garrett _____ Lawson _____ Graham __X__

Ex- officio members

City Manager- Mahle __X__

Community Development Director-Harting __X__

CRC- Executive Director- Junghanel _____

CRC Program Coordinator- Allen _____

Youth Center Representative _____

Director of Public Property – Harris __X__

1. Public Participation None

2. Approval of Minutes

• December 12th, 2024 minutes Motion: Agee 2nd: Jones

3. Treasurers Report

• December, January, February Motion: Jones 2nd: Agree

4. Monthly Reports

• Youth Center – Representative not present

• City - Mahle discussed a meeting that he attended last week with representatives from Rec Complex, Centralia Foundation, Youth Soccer Organization, Rotary Foundation and himself to clarify the “goings on” of Rotary Field. Moving forward, contracts will be written soon that will have details of who does what and liability issues. This coming about with the City no longer has a contract for youth sports with the Rec Complex. The City will have the say of scheduling of the fields and has already begun registration for the softball/baseball season. Residents can register at City Hall. Details have been shared with the Media as well as Social Networks and City’s Website. Sign-ups will also be taking place the next two Saturdays at Rotary Park. Mahle has been working on the field prep and things are looking good so far.

Graham wanted to say, just for clarification, that he also attended the meeting that Mahle just spoke about and felt that the Foundation only wanted things cleaned up & on paper.

Harris reported that the Pavillion at Point Park had been completed and looked good. Clean up at the Point Park had been done. Water is on and working at Rotary Fields. Dirt work has been done at Fairview Park getting ready for the new playground equipment to be installed. Young asked about the large piles of rock in the parking lot of Fairview Park and Harris explained that it will be used for the groundwork/foundation with the new equipment. Harris reported on a new dock at the boat ramp location of Point Park and that they plan to allow boat access during the removal of the old and installation of the new docks.

5. Old Business - Jones stated that he was asking on behalf of committee member George Pracht, who couldn’t be here today, about the tennis screens at the Fairview park tennis courts and the quote that Terry Harris had gotten, which has been an ongoing conversation with no results. Mahle stated that he wasn’t aware of the conversations or quotes and reminded the committee that he had just recently taken over as City Manager and not having been a part of any of those conversations would be able to answer that question. Jones went onto explain the request. Harris explained that posts/bracing needed to be done for screens and that he could get with Galen and look into options. That the invoice that he had obtained and given had long expired and wouldn’t be anything that a company would still honor.

Jones also asked for a clear understanding of the Geary Donation and what it’s to be used for. Mahle will bring that information to the next monthly meeting. Agee explained, for clarification, that there are funds that are clearly set up to be used for the maintenance of the planes that would have nothing to do with the Geary donation. And that can be seen on the Treasurers Report.

6. New Business - There was discussion, starting with Jones of the understanding of the duties/roles of this committee. Mahle explained that with all the recent changes of City Staffing, and the cancelling of the contract with the Rec Complex, he’d be working on a new resolution for this committee and its role that would then go to the City Council for approval. That there would be obvious things that would now need changed, such as the duty of the Program Director of the Rec. Complex to take minutes of the meetings. Jones asked Mahle if there were thoughts and/or discussions at the City regarding youth activities beyond the ball season that they’re preparing for now. Mahle stated that there were and that he had already had discussions with the new soccer group that had recently formed.

All in attendance agreed and were pleased that Mahle would be working on identifying and explaining the new expectations and roles of this committee.

7. Adjournment Motion: Agee 2nd: Young

https://www.cityofcentralia.org/media/7531