City updates, Parks & Rec readies for summer

It was announced at the Malta City Council meeting last Tuesday that a highfalutin, $1,370 gopher-killing machine that dispenses carbon monoxide would not be needed by the Malta Public Works Department, but rather a much cheaper alternative, gas canisters, would be used instead to rid City parks of the pests.

Malta Public Works Director Jim Truelove informed the City Council that Phillips County Extension Agent Marko Manoukian (who was asked to learn more about the nearly $1,400 monoxide machine at the first meeting of the month) recommended the canisters after talking to some of his contacts around the state.

"I'm sure glad Marko was here that night and ended up leading us down the right track," Malta Mayor Demarais said, "because those smoke bombs work pretty slick."

"We will use those going forward because they are a lot cheaper, they are safe to handle and they are more cost-effective," Director Truelove added.

Director Truelove told the Council that he had enlisted the help of Adam's Asphalt to repair some of the massive potholes and patching that needed to be done around the City, jobs too big for the Public Works Crew, while public works also completes road work around town to fix smaller problems. He said that street sweeping has started around town and will continue until the streets are clean. Director Truelove also said that blading is being done in City alleys and that work will also continue until they are all complete.

Malta Parks and Rec co-director Natalie Judd told the Council of the many programs the events recently completed and what to expect as summer nears. Co-Director Judd said that dance classes commenced at the beginning of April where 30 children partook in a six-week session taught by Sheena Dorak.) Judd said Dorak thinks she will teach more classes in the future.) A total of 60 people were registered for the yoga classes taught by Fallon Handley which ended at the beginning of April and added that Handley has five classes scheduled for the summer.

The Malta Parks and Rec Youth Kickball league got underway recently with 70 children enrolled to play (and, weather permitting, the league will move their games from inside of the Malta City Gym to the outside to the City parks.) That league concludes on May 10 and the Adult, Co-ed Dodgeball league Championship was held on Monday, April 30 (four teams played this season.)

"If you want some entertainment, go watch them play dodgeball," Co-Director Judd said. "It is pretty funny."

Upcoming events through Malta Parks and Rec are to include a men's softball league (on Monday nights); co-ed, adult softball following the men's league (Tuesday nights) ;various swimming classes, tennis, kayak classes, golf, dance, and skateboarding.

"We will be busy and we will keep people busy all throughout the summer," Co-Director Judd said.

In related news, an engineering firm will start an audit on the Municipal Pool ahead of an engineering study to determine whether a new pool is needed or if the current pool can be rehabilitated (the same engineering firm is doing the same type of work in Glasgow.)

"We are getting pretty excited about this pool project," Mayor Demarais said. "It is going to be something that improves our town and (the pool) is a little diamond in the rough that we will make shine again."