Middleton joins Toronto Council as downtown amphitheater plans take shape

TORONTO -- City Council has picked up a new member.

Jayson Middleton was sworn in as 3rd Ward councilman before the state of Monday’s meeting. Mayor John Parker administered the oath. Middleton’s wife, Tammi, joined in the ceremony.

Middleton replaces Troy Stewart, who resigned from council.

During the meeting, council members had the opportunity to look at preliminary sketches for the planned downtown amphitheater project.

Planned for the corner of North Third and Market streets, the city’s building and grounds committee reported the stage will face the Gazebo Commons, where summer concerts are currently held, the surface will be concrete and an entrance will be from Third Street.

The site is the location of the former Cooper Hardware Store, a three-story building that was torn down last August by the Jefferson County Land Bank. It’s a 9,600-square-foot lot that also sits across from the historic Soldiers and Sailors World War I Monument.

An agreement with the land bank allows the lot to be transferred to the city.

In November, Parker said he had purchased bench-style seating with a capacity for a few hundred people using $38,000 awarded for the project by the Charles and Thelma Pugliese Charitable Foundation, while the Jefferson County commissioners had granted $13,000 to the city from its park and recreation fund for the amphitheater.

Council also learned that this coming Monday will be the last day for public swimming at the pool, with the adult swim sessions ending on Labor Day.

Members also decided to set the city’s trick-or-treat hours for 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 31.

Council’s next meeting will be at 7 p.m. Aug. 24.