Barnesville opts for a splash pad at the city pool site and adopts food‑truck rules

Barnesville’s elected leaders moved to replace the city swimming pool with a splash pad and codified rules for mobile food vendors in 2023.

Civic Center/Swimming Pool Manager Felicia Vereen and City Manager Tim Turner briefed council on options for the aging pool (rehab, new pool, or a splash pad) and associated costs and staffing implications. Council voted unanimously in April to install a splash pad at the current pool location.

Separately, in response to business inquiries and public interest in downtown vending, Council drafted and adopted a Mobile Food Service Unit ordinance (Ordinance No. 605) at the Dec. 4 meeting. The ordinance adds rules for permitting and public-health compliance; Council also approved an associated annual permit fee of $125 via Ordinance No. 606. City Manager Turner explained that permits will be issued after verification of a Department of Health certificate and a declared home base for mobile units. Councilmembers asked staff to include noise and parking enforcement considerations in the rules.

Officials expect the splash pad parts to arrive in late summer/fall 2023 with installation undertaken by contracted crews; staff will publish permitting steps for food trucks and coordinate event use with the parks and events calendar.