Perry launches park maps, postpones sign vote

PERRY — The city is offering a new perspective on its parks- one that can be viewed from a computer or smartphone.

A recently launched interactive map allows visitors to click on the location of parks, which are marked by picnic tables, to see aerial pictures of each individual park.

Kevin Dye, director of leisure services, presented the new feature on the city's website to City Council on Tuesday night.

"We wanted to take advantage of our website capabilities," Dye said. "This is more progressive than what other parks and other places are doing because you can go on your smartphone and get a visual perspective of what the park is."

Rozar Park is the only location that has its own interactive map so far, and Dye said it's his goal to add maps for all the parks. To check out the new map, click here.

In other business, the council voted unanimously to postpone a public hearing on a more relaxed sign ordinance recommended by the Planning Commission.

"There are a few things in here that I'm not happy with right now," Mayor Jimmy Faircloth said of the proposed update. "Ultimately, I want to pull it off the agenda. It needs a lot of work. I think we need to discuss it."

Rather than removing the public hearing from the agenda, City Manager Lee Gilmour recommended it be tabled.

Faircloth said the council will postpone the hearing until it is happy with the ordinance.

"It's too sensitive of an issue for us not to do our due diligence and make it right," City Councilman Randall Walker said.

Councilmen Willie King and William Jackson agreed.

Also Tuesday night, the city updated its solid waste ordinance. Director of Public Works Decius Aaron said nothing major will change for the average resident. However, rules regarding yard and bulk waste for commercial, multi-family, industrial and other facilities have changed.

The council also approved:

• Exempting Perry Hospital from the city's wastewater connection policy to allow for a septic tank.

• A 1-percent merit increase for City Manager Lee Gilmour effective 90 days ago.

• C&H Pipeline Inc. to change out the bare steel natural gas mains in the Stanley Street area for $19,083.89.

To contact writer Laura Corley, call 744-4334 or follow her on Twiter @Lauraecor.

This story was originally published October 20, 2015 at 10:21 PM with the headline "Perry launches park maps, postpones sign vote ."