Together for Lincoln to build a pavilion in Ray White Park

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[September 18, 2015]  LINCOLN - On Tuesday evening, Norman Newhouse appeared before the Lincoln City Council representing the Together for Lincoln group.

Newhouse began by explaining that the annual workday program for Together for Lincoln has been suspended. The group began doing workdays seven years ago. On those days, a large group of volunteers would gather, and then were disbursed to various homes throughout Lincoln. Once at the home, they performed a wide variety of tasks including painting, cleaning windows or even window replacements, roof repairs, lawn work, or light maintenance around the exterior of the home and the lawn.

The group in its seven years of service working year round, also built approximately 50 wheelchair ramps for physically challenged persons.

The objective of the workday was to provide home maintenance to those who were physically incapable of doing the work personally, or financially unable to pay for needed repairs.

Newhouse said this year, the TFL is taking on a single project. They plan to build a picnic pavilion in Ray White Park. Because the park belongs to the city, Newhouse was there, seeking the city’s permission to build the pavilion.

Newhouse said the work will begin immediately, but the major build will be done on Sunday, September 27th. The group will work with the city to set the corner poles for the pavilion this week. Then after the build is completed on the 27th, the concrete will be poured for the floor on at a slightly later date.

Newhouse said in addition to the pavilion, the TFL will provide eight picnic tables for the pavilion.

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Michelle Bauer asked Newhouse how the group had come to select Ray White Park. Newhouse said that was the most used park in the city park system. One reason it is used so much he said is because there is a church youth program that utilizes the park for its ministry.

Because the group wanted to get started on the preliminary work right away, Neitzel questioned if this should be on the voting agenda to permit. City Administrator Clay Johnson said he didn’t feel the council needed to vote on the matter if it appeared that there were no objections to the project. Around the room, the six aldermen present, Mayor Pro Tem Marty Neitzel, Michelle Bauer, Jeff Hoinacki, Kathy Horn, Todd Mourning and Jonie Tibbs, all agreed that they had no objection to the project.

As Newhouse prepared to exit the meeting, Mourning did say that he wanted to thank publicly the Together for Lincoln group for their seven years of service to the residents of Lincoln.

[Nila Smith]

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