EVANSTON — Council members unanimously approved three park and access closures for the Evanston Parks and Recreation District during the May 2 Evanston City Council meeting.

Preparing for annual events, district director Jay Dee Nielsen requested to close the Bear Ice Ponds and Bear River Greenway main access roads for the Trout Unlimited Kids Fishing Day and Uinta County Outdoor Recreation Expo (UCORE).

The Bear River Greenway main access road from the 6th Street underpass to the Bear Community Center, along with the Community Center parking lot, will be closed from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 13, for the outdoor expo.

In previous years, the fair was held at the Machine Shop, but organizers felt the change in venue would be positive as long as the weather holds.

The Bear Ice Ponds will be closed to public fishing from June 5-9, so officials can prepare for the annual Trout Unlimited Kids Fishing Day on June 10.

During the fishing day, the Greenway main access road from the 6th Street underpass to the Bear Community Center and the Community Center parking lot will close. The event is scheduled from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

“All of these closures are to ensure the safety of those participating in the events,” said Nielsen.

Council members approved extended hours for the Evanston Liquor Association at the meeting.

Each year, the Evanston Liquor Association selects four dates to bring before the council for extended hours.

By statute, the association is only allowed to request up to four dates.

The extended dates for 2017 are Aug. 12, for Wyoming Downs’ closing weekend; Sept. 9, for the annual demolition derby; Oct. 28, for the Saturday before Halloween; and Dec. 31, for New Year’s Eve festivities.

With the approval of the extended hours, businesses are allowed to stay open until 4 a.m. on those four dates.

In new business, the council approved a motion allowing the city to sell the old window frames from the Roundhouse to the public.

“People inquired about the old window frames,” said Mayor Kent Williams. “We thought the public might be interested in purchasing them. They could be used for all sorts of projects.”

The Roundhouse window frames will be sold from noon to 3 p.m. on Thursday, May 11, at the Machine Shop, at a cost of $15 per  window frame. Community members are limited to purchasing three frames out of the 38 available to the public.

Resolution 17-25 was unanimously approved Tuesday night. The resolution approved change order No. 2 for the Roundhouse windows and masonry project. It allows the installation of storefront-type doors, which will match the doors installed in the completed portion of the building.

“I met with Amy and the contractors,” said Evanston Director of Engineering and Planning Dean Barker. “We all determined this was a good change order.”

Mayor Williams asked Barker why there was a need for the change order.

“These will match the doors in other areas,” said Barker. “They are aluminum doors instead of wood, so the upkeep is easier.”

Barker said the doors are a better product, will look better and be easier to maintain than the doors set in the original plans.

“The change order is for $6,801,” he said. “This leaves us $89,408 in our contingency fund. We know there may be other change orders, so we are being careful with funds.”

Some council members voiced concerns, because future tenants are unknown and they don’t want the doors removed.

“Those doors are so pretty,” said Councilman Mike Sellers. “Hopefully, people in the future will use them.”

Barker addressed their concerns by saying they were trying to be as forward thinking as possible regarding the project.

An amendment to the agreement with Cook-Sanders and Associates to provide design and construction management services for the Fairgrounds Sewer Project was approved.

According to Barker, the original agreement and design was for a new main sewer line, running through the Fairgrounds to Interstate 80, along Bear River Drive.

“The amendment is to bid out lines connected to the main line for bathrooms on the south end of the Fairgrounds,” said Barker. “This would be for the additional survey and design work.”

Williams asked if county officials support this amendment.

Barker said they had met with the County and everyone was in agreement.

“We originally thought about placing this in the original bid,” said Councilman Evan Perkes. “It’s going to be done sooner or later and I’m glad we’re doing it now.”

Sellers said he thought it was a good idea to use the grant money allocated for the project. “Better to use the grant money than have to give it back,” he said.

Closing out the night, Williams opened the floor to public comment.

Evanston resident Patrick Montgomery approached the council to tell them the Federal Communications Commission approved a radio license for the old KEVA station.

“It took a lot of work,” said Montgomery. “Senator Enzi was so helpful in getting us the license.”

Montgomery said he plans to start broadcasting on Aug. 1, but he and others are still looking for a property for the station.

“We’ll broadcast live 24/7 — that’s our goal,” he said. “We’re also bidding on the FM station and plan to combine the two stations.”