More Baseball! More Confusion? - Last week the Village Baseball Task Force met Monday, the School Board met Tuesday and the Village Parks and Rec Committee met Thursday. The Coral Shores baseball field at Founders Park was on the agenda at each of the meetings.
The Task Force, on Monday, seemed divided on the artificial turf versus grass. They did not seem divided as to maintenance and replacement costs if it is artificial turf. They seemed adamant that the cost of the upgrades to the field and future replacements should be funded 100% by the School District.
The School Board, on Tuesday, questioned who would be responsible for replacements and were told by facility spokesman, Patrick LeFere, that this does not need to be discussed at this time and can be dealt with closer to the time when the turf would need to be replaced.
The School Board voted to approve the preliminary design with artificial turf; an 800 sq ft concession stand with 4 public restrooms and press box on the second floor; a 2200 sq ft building with home team locker room and restroom, umpires’ dressing room with restroom, coach’s office with restroom. Total - 7 new restrooms to replace a porta potty currently used to avoid the need for the restrooms 200 ft down the first base line.
Parks and Rec, on Thursday, learned that the building built by the school in about 2001 down the first base line had restrooms, a concession area, and locker rooms.
Village Manager, Ron Saunders, has proposed that the Village ask the School Board to eliminate the 2200 sq ft building and instead allow the Village to upgrade the existing building (first base line) so that the 2200 sq ft new building will not be needed, saving an estimated $1.5 million that could then be used elsewhere.
Stay tuned! Mr. LeFere is claiming that by making any changes to the preliminary design approved by the School Board Tuesday, including eliminating the 2,200 sq ft building, the entire project would be delayed a year.
What about the promise that as property owners the Village would have a say.
