Culver Town Council Considers Resolution for Regional Stellar Project Fund

The Culver Town Council members considered a resolution last week that would outline the town’s funding commitments if Marshall County is designated a winner in the Regional Stellar Communities Designation initiative. 

Town Manager Jonathan Leist said one proposed project for the Town of Culver would be a trail connection on Slate Street, Cass Street and Jefferson Street to the Sand Hill Farms apartment complex with Culver Community Schools and the trail on Jefferson Street.  It would assist in the completion of Culver’s West Jefferson Street gateway project. 

The second proposed project would include the construction of outdoor ADA-accessible playground equipment on the west end of the Culver Town Park.  The old wooden playground would be demolished.  In addition to the equipment, slides would be built into the hill and seating areas would be installed around the Culver Depot and the west pavilion in the park. 

The proposed work would cost in the range of $1 million.  The town’s match for the trail project would be $80,000 while the playground and seating match would be around $120,000 for a total of $200,000.

Culver Town Council member and Culver Redevelopment Commission President Rich West noted the CRC has historically put forward funds toward the trail projects, but official action has not been taken. 

If the region is awarded the Stellar designation, these projects wouldn’t start for a few years, which would allow Culver officials time to budget the match money as needed. 

The resolution to show the commitment of funds by the Town of Culver to satisfy Stellar requirements was approved with council members Rich West, Joel Samuelson and Bill Githens voting in favor of the resolution, while Bill Cleavenger voted against the resolution.  Council President Ginny Bess Munroe abstained from the vote.