Hamilton approves $146,327

By Kathryn “Chazz” Hirschfeld
Staff writer
HAMILTON — The Hamilton City Council’s Monday, Dec. 18, meeting was brief, with only two items of city business discussed.
Firstly, the council voted to approve payments regarding the new Hamilton Track & Field Facility, now under construction.
The amount of $77,462.28 was approved for Crumpton Fence of Winfield for fencing, while $68,865.65 was approved for the national company, Litania Sports Group, for track equipment.
“The track project is coming along nicely,” Hamilton Mayor Bob Page said. “You need to go over and take a look at it. The work is coming along, and you can see a big track now.”
The mayor also noted the two invoices, totalling $146,327.93, would be paid with funds from the city’s American Rescue Plan, also known as the COVID fund.
During a brief on-site interview on Tuesday, Jan. 2, superintendent of construction Wendell Edgill of Avery Landscaping provided a few details.
“It’s going good,” he said. “We’re pouring concrete already. We’ve been pouring concrete for the bleachers, and the bleachers will start going up next week or the week after.
“The fence is going up and concrete is being poured for the sidewalk near where the fence is. We’re getting ready to asphalt the running track. Weather permitting, we hope to meet the goal we started with and finish construction by April, at least.”
Hamilton Park and Recreation Department Director Tim Kerr explained later the funds paid to Litania Sports Group purchased equipment for some of the field events. “The money went to buy the equipment for the hurdles, javelin, high jump, pole vault, discus, hammer throw and shot putt,” he said.
Kerr noted some of the field activities, such as the long jump, high jump, pole vault and steeple chase would take place in the end zones of the football field, which is located in the center of the track.
Other field events will be located in a separate area, southeast of the track. The hurdles will be set up on the track for individual races, and then carted off.