Jack Underwood, Staff Writer
The Marthasville City Council voted to make no changes to the playground at a city park after receiving a recommendation from an insurance company to improve safety wherever possible.
Mayor David Lange had asked the city’s insurance company what the consequences would be if it chose not to make the changes.
“I asked you guys a question (what happens if you don’t follow insurance recommendations),” Lange said. “I said I was afraid I would be kicked out by the insurance company, but he said no. There are other cities that are making recommendations to do something in their own cities. , he said, he’s not doing it in that municipality, no, he’s not kicking it out of the insurance company, it’s just a recommendation.”
This meant there were no penalties for provider recommendations, and the city would not be excluded from insurance or see premium increases related to playgrounds.
Although their playground was technically below new industry standards for safety, it was scrapped and their insurance company did not require them to make changes.
At its Sept. 18 meeting, the board received a recommendation from the insurance company to make changes to the playground in line with new industry guidelines for safety.
These recommendations include installing an additional handrail on one of the entrance stairs to the playground structure on the north side of the playground and reinforcing the pea gravel foundation on the north side of the playground near the “fall zone.” was included.
The stairwell already has horizontal handrails, but in order to bring the playground into compliance with new industry guidelines, the insurer said the city will work with manufacturer Miracle Recreation to install vertical handrails on the handrails as well. I was looking for.
Lange said city crews have already placed additional gravel on the playground and readjusted the depth around the playground to 4 to 6 inches because the gravel had shifted and become shallow in some spots.
Miracle also provided a quote to change the railing for approximately $6,500.
Board members balked at paying for what they perceived to be small, unnecessary changes to the playground.
“That play equipment has been there for over 10 years and no child has yet fallen on it or been injured,” Lange said.
Instead of making a decision at its Sept. 18 meeting, the board directed Lange to return to the insurance company with a list of questions.
According to information Lange received, there were no penalties for the provider’s recommendation, the city would not be removed from insurance, and there would be no premium increases related to the playground.
Although their playground was technically below new industry standards for safety, it was scrapped and their insurance company did not require them to make changes.
Lange also felt that in the years since the playground was installed, there have been no major injuries that she can recall.
“The fact that the insurance companies are saying we don’t have to take benefits, we’re not going to lay people off, we’re not going to raise our premiums means whatever we receive is OK. It pretty much says it all.” Councilman Leo Meyer.
In the end, the board voted unanimously not to move forward with changes to the playground and instead direct city funds to a project deemed more beneficial: a contract for new security cameras in city parks.
