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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: June 8, 2004 <br />Action Agen a <br />Item No. ~ G <br />SUBJECT: Parks Operations Base <br />DEPARTMENT: Purchasing and Central PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />Services, Recreation & Parks <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />A. Tentative Timeline -Building <br />Development <br />B. Equipment List <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Pam Jones, (919) 245-2652 <br />Lori Taft, (919) 245-2660 <br />TELEPHONE NUMBERS: <br />Hillsborough <br />Chapel Hill <br />Durham <br />Mebane <br />732-8181 <br />968-4501 <br />688-7331 <br />336-227-2031 <br />PURPOSE: To consider options for space to be used as a parks operations base. <br />BACKGROUND: The advent of parks development in the County has given rise to the need to <br />develop an operations base specifically for the parks function. The parks services function <br />requires that equipment be brought inside for routine, day-to-day lubrication and maintenance. <br />As an example, the reel mower for Bermuda grass turf requires oil and filter changes every 50 <br />hours, the "Sand-Pro" for the infields -every 25 hours. Blades must be "backlapped" once a <br />month. This specialized day-to-day equipment upkeep goes significantly beyond the capacity of <br />the County garage staff. Further, while the expertise needed to correctly complete the upkeep <br />is part of training for Parks staff, it may be outside of the existing expertise of mechanics, <br />primarily trained on vehicle maintenance. It is also notable that Bermuda grass requires <br />mowing every other day, or at a minimum every three days. This mowing schedule does not <br />allow "down time" for the mower to await prioritized attention to other vehicles and equipment at <br />Public Works. Current parks staff is capable of performing these fi~nctions as quickly as <br />adequate space can be identified. <br />The operations base is also necessary to allow the equipment to be protected from weather and <br />against possible vandalism or theft and to prevent unauthorized access, which could result in <br />injury. In addition, indoor space is essential to allow for productivity during inclement weather. <br />Shop space will be required for carpentry (picnic tables, play structure repair, kiosk and sign <br />construction) and painting and machine work. The office area would be utilized for current full <br />time employees. <br />