TRUMAN– The Truman City Council held a special meting on Tuesday to discuss some ongoing projects including a campground expansion and pickleball court additions.

At the start of the meeting the council canvassed the votes from the Nov. 5 general election. The city had a total of 705 registered voters, including same-day registrants, on Election Day, with 558 casting votes. With no candidates who filed for mayor, incumbent Jake Ebert came away with 180 votes, Sarah Chambers with 58, Richard Becker with 13, Brian Nickerson with five and other write-ins with 32.

For city council, two had filed for two open seats and Chad Truax received 318 votes, Danielle Williams received 301 votes and there were 138 write-in votes.

Turning to discussion about the projects, Ebert asked for a refresher on what the original estimate was. Utility Foreman Brent Brown provided the numbers, which were given by Bolton and Menk at the May 15, 2023 meeting when the council first reviewed bids received for the project.

The low bid to redo the whole site came in at $327,867 and the low bid to do just 10 or 12 sites was $236,684. However Brown said those figures do not include electric so that would roughly be an additional

$45,000 and $26,000 respectively. Brown again reiterated that these number were from almost two years ago,

“I know transformer prices have gone up,” he said.

Ebert estimated that now the project would likely be around $400,000 for the full thing and $275,000 for 12 sites.

He referenced a resolution passed in 2020 that went over how funds were dispersed. He said that the $150,000 that was put into the campground fund then is now down to $98,819.

“Part of this problem is the way we’ve dispersed this. We’ve tried to do a good thing and it’s partially backfired on us,” Ebert said.

He went on to explain that the issue had to do with some land the city attempted to buy for commercial development that fell through. There was also $500,000 of funds and the city’s auditor recommended that $400,000 be moved to undesignated funds.

“I know the biggest discussion is going to be the campground but I want to see that pickleball court go no matter what,” Ebert said.

He said that it’s something both young people and older people will use.

“We need to move forward with something,” Ebert said.

Brown said that the quote the city had received for two pickleball courts and half a basketball court was $135,000 but that that amount does not include nets, fencing, surveying, yard restoration and some other items.

The council discussed placing the courts near the campground or at Graf Park though it was pointed out that Graf Park is only a few blocks away. It was said that placing the pickleball courts at Graf Park would be a smaller project as there’s already a basketball court there.

Returning back to the topic of the campground, Brown said there is some work happening now at the campground which includes eliminating four sites and installing sewer lines. The work is expected to cost about $12,000.

Ebert said if they plan to pursue the 12 site option and use the $98,000 remaining for funds, plus $160,000 that was going to be used to purchase the land, the majority will be funded.

Council Member Patty Truax said she did not think the council could justify redoing the whole campground site.

The council discussed the costs between the two options but Brown pointed out that the city will have to go out for bids again as nearly two years have passed.

“It’s hard for everyone to be here and think of spending this money but we have to think of it as, ‘this guy gave us this money…the city of Truman would look a lot better with a residential development, campground and pickleball courts.’ Someone gave us this money and that’s basically what they wanted done,” Ebert said.

He was referring to Roger Jones who had gifted the city some farm land that was sold at auction for $1.4 million in 2018. It was Jones’ intent for the city to use the money in a way which would benefit it.

Lynn Brownlee, who was mayor at the time of the donation and present at Tuesday’s meeting, said, “Roger gave so much credit to this town… and loved this town dearly and he wanted to give back. He loved nature and the city of Truman and that’s exactly why he gave the money. It’s important that it comes to fruition.”

The council decided to rebid the campground project and Brown will make some calls on the pickleball project with plans to potentially subcontract the work.

The council also briefly discussed the future of the swimming pool. Truax said that the manager that worked this past summer said she accepted a different job and Truax doubted she would be available next summer.

Truax said that times the pool were closed this past summer were either because of maintenance or staffing issues.

“I don’t know how you guys want to handle the pool this year,” Truax said.

The council decided to advertise now for a pool manager.