Mooresville parks approves company for 5-year master plan

MOORESVILLE — The Mooresville Parks system is looking at what it will look like over the next five years, and has started the process to work through a five-year master plan.

In recent weeks, the town’s park board has heard presentations from two companies wanting to work with the department through its master plan, meeting with Troyer Group on Jan. 29 and Pros Consulting on Feb. 5.

Troyer Group’s bid came in at $59,200 while Pros Consulting’s bid came in at $59,980.

During the board’s Feb. 12 meeting, park board members were asked to give their opinions of the two companies.

Board member Brent Callahan said he knew both groups well. He told the board that he felt Pros Consulting would be the better choice to help the department work on its master plan.

“The one group had three ex-park superintendents that probably have 60 or more years experience as their three lead people,” Callahan said, talking about Pros Consulting.

Board member Mark Taylor agreed with Callahan that Pros Consulting would be the best option for Mooresville’s parks.

Board member Danny Shaw, however, said he felt Troyer would be the best fit for Mooresville.

“I thought Troyer was more to the point,” Shaw said.

Board member Danny Lundy said both companies would be competent and would do a good job, but he
was “edging” toward Troyer. “I also really like the way they talked about the way they were going to do public engagement,” Lundy said.

Board member Lynn Adams said she preferred Pros Consulting while BJ Bungard said he agreed with Lundy and Shaw that Troyer would be the better option.

Board president Matt Saner said he felt that there would be “no going wrong” with either company, but still had a favorite between the two consultants.

“My thought process, as I was going in there, is who is going to help us best achieve, help us to achieve our vision?” Saner said. “And I got a greater sense of Troyer being able to help us with that.”

Saner added that Troyer would bring outside thoughts to the new direction of Mooresville’s parks.

He added that he’d like to see what could be done in Madison Township for the department to expand into, and that Troyer is best able to help with that goal.

Mooresville Park Superintendent Phil Cornelius said he and other staff members feel both companies would do a good job for the town.

Park staff, according to Cornelius, felt that Pros Consulting would provide a more custom option for the town.

Ultimately, though, he said staff would be able to work with either proposal the board selects.

“We can work with both these firms to get exactly what we need,” Cornelius said.

The board chose to go with Troyer to work through the five-year park master plan by a vote of 6-0-1, with Callahan abstaining from the vote, citing a conflict of interest.

In other business

• The board voted to declare old playground equipment at Old Town Park as surplus so that the department can get rid of it and install the new playground equipment.
• It voted to remove lap lanes in the pool and paint the pool white, which will be done with park staff.

~ By Lance Gideon | Reporter | Published February 22, 2024 in The Morgan County Correspondent