Splashpads coming to two parks

By John Howell
City officials voted unanimously Tuesday to buy “Splashpad” water recreation playground equipment for Trussell and Patton Lane parks.
The two pads will be purchased from and installed by Great Southern Recreation of Murphreesboro, Tenn. for $150,000 total. Great Southern Recreation was the only company to submit a bid.
Following the vote to purchase the pads, alderman Bill Dugger said that rules and regulations for the pads’ use should be adopted and posted.
The officials also authorized alderman Stan Harrison to get quotes on fencing for the pad areas.
In other city business during the City of Batesville’s regularly scheduled Third Tuesday meeting:
• Aldermen voted to purchase one new backhoe and to lease two more from Briggs Equipment. Briggs had initially appeared as low bidder over Stribling Equipment when bids were opened at the Feb. 7 meeting when aldermen voted to take the bids under advisement.
At Tuesday’s meeting, aldermen went ahead with the purchase from Briggs;
• Aldermen approved holding the Panola County Relay for Life Saturday, April 28 on the “top half” of the Square. Planners requested using the opposite side of the Square from the lower side to avoid conflict with businesses;
• Aldermen approved a payment of $17,964.92 to Suncoast Systems for ongoing rehabilitation of the city’s sanitary sewer system. The payment was the ninth to Suncoast, bringing to total amount paid to date to $377,263.32;