(Sept. 21, 2017) Snow Hill Town Council discussed the following items during a meeting last Monday at the Train Station on Belt Street.
Community basketball
Snow Hill Councilwoman LaToya Purnell thanked Public Works Director Randy Barfield for the department’s assistance with the “Hooping at Byrd Park,” weekly pickup basketball game, held Sunday evenings.
“Randy has been doing a lot for the basketball game at Byrd Park,” she said.
Purnell asked if event participants had been leaving the park in good order.
“Oh yeah,” Barfield said. “It’s a lot better than it used to be.”
Purnell was pleased with community support for the event, started last month.
“We had a back to school giveaway [and] all the students out there got an item for school,” she said. “It’s been amazing to see the community come out to play basketball.”
Sylvester “Dawk” Bratten Sr., who helped launch the event, said in addition to the spirited physical competition, the evening closes with inspirational speakers providing useful perspective for area youth.
Museum sale
Dr. Cindy Byrd, executive director of the Julia A. Purnell Museum, said there was confusion surrounding the ongoing sale of select items from an exhibit honoring longtime Snow Hill physician Dr. Robert LaMar.
Byrd clarified the museum is not selling items from its permanent collection.
“The [LaMar] family came to us with a few things and said, ‘We’d like to sell them and give the money to the museum,’” she said.
At that time Byrd proposed the current exhibit, “Community Medicine: The Art and Science of Healing,” which debuted in April.
The plan was to incorporate certain items into the museum’s permanent collection, Byrd said.
“We’re keeping his portrait, his sign that was on his business, his degree and probably his microscope and some of the things that we can fit,” she said. “But large examining tables and things like that, we just don’t have room for.”
Byrd, again, stressed the museum was not selling items from its permanent collection.
“We don’t look around and say, ‘oh we need some more space, let’s sell some stuff.’ It doesn’t work that way,” she said. “When someone gives something to the museum it becomes part of the public trust and it is our obligation to care for it.”
Street repairs
Show Hill resident Carolyn Brown asked about asphalt upgrades on area roads.
“I have not heard a thing said about any street repairs,” she said. “Riding around town is just like taking a roller coaster ride through Ocean City.”
Public Works Director Randy Barfield said town officials discussed the issue.
“I’ve been through town,” he said. “We’re doing the most-used streets [first].”
Brown highlighted her concern over one particular rough patch of roadway.
“The worst of it is Stevens [Road],” she said. “Is anything going to be done?”
Barfield said Stevens Road was a top priority, but budget limitations dictate when work can be completed.
“The main problem is we only have a certain amount of money to operate with,” he said.
Barfield said, ideally, repaving roads would also include repairing storm drains and waterlines, but financial constraints make that less than likely.
Despite limited resources, Barfield said his department has recently repaved three area roads.
“I have some money to do streets,” he said. “Some [additional] streets are going to be repaired if we have the money to do them.”
Community basketball
Snow Hill Councilwoman LaToya Purnell thanked Public Works Director Randy Barfield for the department’s assistance with the “Hooping at Byrd Park,” weekly pickup basketball game, held Sunday evenings.
“Randy has been doing a lot for the basketball game at Byrd Park,” she said.
Purnell asked if event participants had been leaving the park in good order.
“Oh yeah,” Barfield said. “It’s a lot better than it used to be.”
Purnell was pleased with community support for the event, started last month.
“We had a back to school giveaway [and] all the students out there got an item for school,” she said. “It’s been amazing to see the community come out to play basketball.”
Sylvester “Dawk” Bratten Sr., who helped launch the event, said in addition to the spirited physical competition, the evening closes with inspirational speakers providing useful perspective for area youth.
Museum sale
Dr. Cindy Byrd, executive director of the Julia A. Purnell Museum, said there was confusion surrounding the ongoing sale of select items from an exhibit honoring longtime Snow Hill physician Dr. Robert LaMar.
Byrd clarified the museum is not selling items from its permanent collection.
“The [LaMar] family came to us with a few things and said, ‘We’d like to sell them and give the money to the museum,’” she said.
At that time Byrd proposed the current exhibit, “Community Medicine: The Art and Science of Healing,” which debuted in April.
The plan was to incorporate certain items into the museum’s permanent collection, Byrd said.
“We’re keeping his portrait, his sign that was on his business, his degree and probably his microscope and some of the things that we can fit,” she said. “But large examining tables and things like that, we just don’t have room for.”
Byrd, again, stressed the museum was not selling items from its permanent collection.
“We don’t look around and say, ‘oh we need some more space, let’s sell some stuff.’ It doesn’t work that way,” she said. “When someone gives something to the museum it becomes part of the public trust and it is our obligation to care for it.”
Street repairs
Show Hill resident Carolyn Brown asked about asphalt upgrades on area roads.
“I have not heard a thing said about any street repairs,” she said. “Riding around town is just like taking a roller coaster ride through Ocean City.”
Public Works Director Randy Barfield said town officials discussed the issue.
“I’ve been through town,” he said. “We’re doing the most-used streets [first].”
Brown highlighted her concern over one particular rough patch of roadway.
“The worst of it is Stevens [Road],” she said. “Is anything going to be done?”
Barfield said Stevens Road was a top priority, but budget limitations dictate when work can be completed.
“The main problem is we only have a certain amount of money to operate with,” he said.
Barfield said, ideally, repaving roads would also include repairing storm drains and waterlines, but financial constraints make that less than likely.
Despite limited resources, Barfield said his department has recently repaved three area roads.
“I have some money to do streets,” he said. “Some [additional] streets are going to be repaired if we have the money to do them.”