Shawnee County commissioners were convinced that these tennis courts would be used in a reasonable amount, and voted on Thursday to rebuild 12 tennis courts here.

Shawnee County Parks and Recreation Director Tim Laurent said that although similar pickups have become more popular, tennis is still “very” viable.

"The two must co-exist," Laurent told county commissioners Kevin Cook, Aaron Mays and Bill Lipain at a meeting on Thursday morning.

The commissioners voted 3-0 to invite anyone interested in signing a contract with the county to re-pave the two basketball courts at the Hillcrest Community Center and the 12 nets at Shawnee Lake, Shawnee County North Park and Aquarian Acres. court.

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The vote on Thursday was held after a discussion. Cook questioned the viability of tennis and pointed out that the county has 18 pick courts in Hughes Park at 725 Southwest Avenue in Orleans, which used to be tennis courts. .

Laurent said the estimated total budget for the resurfacing project approved on Thursday was US$98,004.50.

He said that the remaining part of the funds in the US$3 million excess reserve fund designated by the commissioner in 2018 will be used to pay for the expenses to solve the deferred maintenance needs of parks and recreational facilities.

According to a report in The Economist, Pickleball is a paddle sport of tennis, which also includes elements of badminton and table tennis. It is the fastest growing sport in the United States. It takes place on a field about one-third the size of a tennis court.

Laurent said that some Shawnee County tennis courts that were only used for recreational activities and were approved for resurfacing on Thursday will be marked in a way that people can play ball or tennis on them.

He said the arrangement was "widely completed."

Laurent said the Shawnee Lake tennis courts will not be marked for pickball because there are organized and recognized tennis matches.

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On Thursday, the commissioners also abandoned the county’s procurement policy with a 3-0 vote and signed a contract with a local restoration and waterproofing contractor company to carry out a project to repair and waterproof all veterans memorials .

This monument stands in front of the county continental upper station at 701 North Kansas Avenue.

Mays said he was "shocked" by the state of the memorial when the county obtained ownership of the related property last year. He said that he hopes to see the restoration project proceed as soon as possible.

The contract approved on Thursday requires the county to pay no more than $19,500 in labor, equipment, and material costs, and no more than $9,075 in granite panel costs.

The funds for the project will use the county's funds specifically used to pay for station fees on the mainland.

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Laurent told committee members in a memo earlier this month that the county received no response from anyone interested in signing a contract for repair and waterproofing in June.

Laurent's memo stated that RWC contacted the Parks and Recreation Department on the day the proposal expired, stating that it was interested in implementing the project, but just learned of the proposal request and could not complete it before the deadline.

The memo stated that county parks and recreation officials have since met with people from RWC for a long time and believe they can effectively implement the project.

At the end of Thursday's meeting, the committee members took no action 30 minutes after the closing of the executive meeting to hear legal advice on employment contract negotiations and possible pending litigation against the county.