The City of Lisbon approved a $21,172 contract with Krafka Lawn & Landscape to plant real grass on the soccer fields in the sports complex.
Lisbon City Administrator Brandon Siggins said the city has already had three different applications of seeding to the lawn over the course of the last year.
“It looks good from the roadway, but once you get out there in the fields, you realize it still needs work,” Siggins said.
During last summer’s drought, the city applied copious amounts of water to the field to propagate grass, and administered one last seed application before winter to see if enough grass would take this spring.
Siggins and Lisbon Parks and Recreation Director Drayton Kamberling met with Alex Krafka of Krafka Lawn & Landscape to see if additional irrigation to the fields is the next needed step.
Krafka recommended an aggressive seeding and nutrient addition to the field through July before irrigation is investigated.
“That it’s growing some grass shows that the soil is ready to grow grass,” Krafka said.
The first application this April will consist of roughly 500 pounds of fescue and blue grass seed, as well as an application of starter fertilizer over the next four weeks. There will also be weed control application applied. In May, liquid fertilizer will be applied, as well as a tea brew application and aeration of the lawn, as well as another starter fertilizer application.
In June, grub control will be applied, as well as an additional round of tea brew and starter fertilizer application. July will see one more grub control application, as well as a tea brew and weed control application.
The city will be responsible for mowing the land at the new park as weather permits. By July, the city will know if more irrigation is needed for the soccer fields.
OPN work on barns at Pleasant Grove Heritage Park will proceed
OPN Architects will complete an inspection of the barns this week, lasering the structures. A report will be completed and provided to the Lisbon City Council by its May 13 meeting, detailing the costs of preserving the barns. The council will then make a final determination on the barns.
OPN provided a waiver of subrogation and has a “hold harmless agreement” with the city for the company’s time spent in the barns.
Siggins has sought funding opportunities at the state level for the barns, and he has had constructive conversations with the Historic Preservation Commission about the structures.
Siggins did say in his memo to the council that he was upset that a survey had been conducted by a Historic Preservation Commission member on how Lisbon schools staff members feel the park space should be used.
Historic Preservation Commission Chair Rebecca Hess mentioned in comments at the meeting that the survey was meant to gather insight into how others viewed the space to be used in the future, including the barns.
“The schools look at this as a potential outdoor classroom space in the future, that will allow students to learn about prairies, nature and other items,” Hess said. “Being within two to three blocks of the school gives plenty of opportunities to utilize the space.”
Another potential avenue includes self-guided tours with signage for others.
EMC agreed the current snow fencing and caution tape around the barns are sufficient to keep people away from the property until after the City Council’s upcoming May 13 meeting.
The council also approved Jennifer Donovan to become a member of the trees and nature park board. Donovan previously spoke in favor of the barns and park space near her residence.
The council also approved Tanner Frank to serve as an advanced EMT for the Lisbon Fire Department, which brings the number of firefighters to 39 out of the available 40 slots for the department.