Progress on N. Park/Cemetery maintenance facility

Monett Public Works and Utilities crews are continuing work on a new maintenance building located at the North Park Sports Complex near the IOOF cemetery. Earlier this month, city electrician Eric Thom worked on internal electrical work, and city road crews were busy pouring concrete in front of the facility’s vehicle bays.

The new 10,000 square-foot maintenance facility will house operations for both the North Park Sprots Complex and the Cemetery Department.

Currently, the North Park Sports Complex operations are housed in a green barn at North Park, and the Cemetery Department operates out of a metal building at the south end of the IOOF Cemetery. That structure was damaged in a fire two years ago.

Monett Public Works Superintendent Dave Dunn said the City maintains some park and cemetery equipment that is currently housed outdoors, exposed to weather conditions year-round, increasing maintenance costs and reducing the overall life of some equipment.

The new facility will be able store city-owned tractors, mowers and a ball field conditioner that is used to manage drainage on the field, as well as materials used to maintain the park, including weed killers, seed, a conditioner that is used in the infield of the ballfields and various other equipment used for managing and maintaining the sports complex.

“We have had to house a significant amount of equipment outside and this building will help us protect the city’s assets,” said City Commissioner Ken Gaspar. “It is also a safety improvement for staff.”

With limited space available in the green barn, some regular maintenance and repairs on park equipment have been done outdoors, exposing staff to hot or cold temperatures. That also meant that some repairs or maintenance efforts had to be deferred due to inclement weather. The new facility will provide ample space to conduct those maintenance efforts indoors.

The facility also includes offices for both park and cemetery staff.

“This building is something those of us who use the sports complex regularly have wanted for a very long time, so this project is very, very exciting,” Gaspar said. It’s almost surreal to me. I might be more excited than the crews out there who are going to see a lot of benefits from the facility. It’s definitely a welcome and necessary addition for city staff and maintenance crews.”