At Monday night’s Bridgeport City Council meeting, Assistant City Manager Jimmy Smith reported on a number of city improvement projects- some completed, some in progress and others yet to come.

 

Smith shared that with the assistance of the U.S. Army Reserves, the dugouts at Bridgeport City Park fields are being replaced and various other City Park improvements are being made.

 

“They’re installing concrete flooring in a couple of the dugouts and building new picnic tables in the smaller City Park shelter,” Smith said.

 

Smith also updated Council on improvements to the Benedum Civic Center, for which a rededication will be held in the near future.

 

“The (bathroom) ceilings have been dropped down eight inches and some plumbing has been hidden in a wall box,” Smith said. “There’s been some other plumbing done and the Civic Center kitchen floor has been replaced with a sprayed-on, concrete mix cover, which is very durable and long lasting.”

 

The improvements have served to change the appearance of the city landmark, Smith said. 

 

Switching gears, Smith went on to talk about the addition of a temporary boat dock for Hinkle Lake. Hinkle and Deegan Lakes opened for fishing this past Saturday. Up until now, here was not a dock at Hinkle Lake; only Deegan Lake.

 

“This is temporary,” Smith said. “We’ll get feedback from those using it and perhaps in the future, we’ll be able to concrete that in and make it permanent.”

 

Land and water grants are available for that purpose, he said.

 

Next on Smith’s report was the City Park lighting project.

 

“This was set for last year, but it’s been a real big issue to try to get lights installed this time of year,” he said. “Even in the snow, they brought in cranes and the project has gone extremely well. Mats were put down on the round which saved us $10,000 in damages from the heavy equipment to the soft ground. That has expedited the process and the lights should be active by the end of this week or no later than next week.”

 

The addition of a retaining wall at the city pool is progressing well, Smith said.

 

“It runs along the flood bank,” he said. “They also put in another wall with blocks and different drain pipes to allow the flow not to go against the old existing flood wall. With this remediation and putting back the flood wall, it should last a long time without issues.”

 

Smith went on to describe the resurfacing of the pool area, with new concrete on both sides of the diving area. The pool fence has also been relocated, allowing more room for pool guests and hopefully freeing congestion at the entrance area to the pool.

 

Smith said a retaining wall is also needed in front of the Civic Center.

 

“It’s been dilapidated and not doing its job for a long time,” he said. “The Boy Scouts have advised that they want to do this as an Eagle Scout project.”

 

That project will be done in partnership with Bridgeport Parks and Recreation. Work should being in April, Smith said.  

 

Smith also reminded Council and the general public of the upcoming Connect-Bridgeport Track Meet to be held this coming weekend at Bridgeport Track and Field. Featuring high school and middle school competition, the event is the first of its kind in West Virginia.

 

“It will bring hundreds, if not thousands, of folks to Bridgeport,” Smith said. “Expect to see a lot of traffic in that area and a lot of student athletes.”

 

The track meet is this Friday and Saturday. Read more about it HERE.

 

Smith concluded his talk by advising of some personnel additions. The city has hired a part-time staff member, Mitzi Bednar, to handle issuance of building permits. Josh Keough, who left the city’s fire department last year, is back on the payroll. Donnie Tate of the Bridgeport Parks and Recreation staff is now working fulltime from Bridgeport Recreation Complex, preparing the facility for the upcoming baseball season.