Veteran's Park Gazebo to be Rehabbed

The Mendota City Council discussed construction options for a new gazebo in at Tuesday evening’s council meeting, determining that the preferred course of action was to rehab the existing structure.

“The current gazebo has outlived its useful life,” said Brian Mielke, mayor of Mendota.

Community Development Agency representative Lisa Henning presented several options to the council for the future gazebo. She initially introduced the possibility of building a new gazebo identical to the current structure. Henning then pitched the rehab/reuse option, before discussing the concept of building a simpler, less expensive gazebo.

The council spoke in favor of rehabbing the current structure.

The city will build an improved gazebo on the foundation of the existing structure, keeping the concrete slab on which the gazebo is built, as well as the structure’s eight main posts. The current gazebo benches will be retained as well.

Possible alterations include staining the wood and replacing the roof with new cedar shingles. Rehabbing the cupola and latticework and adding light fixtures to the gazebo are being considered as optional enhancements.

The roof, which is approximately 30 years old and is damaged by moss, is the primary cause for concern regarding the current structure.

“The roof is really the eyesore and the problem,” said Henning. “It will be great just to be able to improve it.”

The city hopes to complete the renovations by September 8.

Funding for the gazebo project was provided by a Community Development Block Grant, which the city applied for in January. The federal grant funding is available to cities with a population of less than 10,000.

Mendota was awarded $20,000 by the grant committee. $12,000 was allotted to rebuild the gazebo. The remaining $8,000 will go toward constructing a storage shed in Veteran’s Park.

Discussion of the gazebo construction will continue in July, when Henning will present contractor bids for the project. 

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