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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-12-1991 Regular MeetingThe Recreation Board of the City of Fairhope met June 12, 1991 at 6:00 p.m. in a special meeting at 161 N. Section Street. Present: Chairman Richard Bass; members Rae Jackson, Charlie Langham, Larry Thomas and Stanley Fant. Phil Rutherford, Facilities Director Phil Rutherford, Council Rep. Mike Ford, Betty Rivenbark, Secretar Mr. Bass said the reason for the meeting tonight was Mark Johnson had called and asked for a chance to reply to the Board's decision of last week in which they had determined he could not use the football field for his seven -a -side soccer games. Mark said he had been informed on Thursday of last week that he was not going to be able to use the stadium on Saturday. He said that the games had been postponed until next Saturday but when he had gone up to the complex to see about playing fields he found that you could only get two fields laid out and he needed 3, that all the goals were not placed, there were potholes on both of the fields and one of the goals was cracked and he was sure that if they move it, it will break; also, that there were shells imbedded in the bottom half. Richard Bass spoke at this time saying that if Mark was under the impression that we were going to go out and make him perfect fields he was wrong, he led us to believe that he could use what was there if the stadium was unavailable. That we only promised to move the goals and line off fields for him, make the facilities available. Mark said that he was also questioned as to why use Fairhope and his response is it is a central location as well as better facility, he said he has 140 kids in program. He said he heard that one of the reasons for him being denied was that he would do irreversible damage to the field. He said they will be playing 80 minute games, that he had gone out and gotten sponsors for them, and that he is having this to help high school kids, possibly get scholarships, teach them things that they may have not gotten elsewhere. Stanley said he had no problem with what Mark is proposing, he is all for league play, his problem is with when they are trying to have it, he would be opposed to anything being held in June, July or August on the field. He said the soccer games played in the spring had been played on an over - seeded field and that he will be playing on turf. That June, July, August are months we sand, level the field, put herbicides and pesticides on it. It was discussed how they would lay the fields out and that it is true that most wear and tear on a soccer field is around the goalie box but because of the way you play seven -a -side you would not have this problem. Larry Thomas said he cannot see where 1 hour and 20 minutes on Saturday for eight weeks will hurt the field irreversibly. Coach Cleveland spoke saying he too thought this clinic was good that he is for all sports but his concern is for the damage that he feels will be done to the field, that he talked to a man in Tuscaloosa who is working on their fields and he agrees that the summer months are not the time to play on the field. That he will do anythinc he can to help otherwise, he even offered to let them use the practice field at the high school. Mark said no because he wants it all together and he is responsible, he can't coordinate things from there. The real question was where to get the 3rd field. Rae asked what was wrong with the practice field and they said there was not enough room. She asked if there onily 15 f=j children and he said yes. She said always before that in any venture we con- sidered the number of Fairhope children that would benefit from a program. She asked for the numbers again and he said there would be 12 teams, 144 people, 6 games a weekend. Al Johnson said the problem is having adequate room, that we keep coming back to how many Fairhope people but we are providing supervised play for these kids. That if the field is marked off right, watered enough and get the required maintenance it should not hurt the field. Rae said again that before we did not have the input of the coach and the people who took care of the field, that we had to rely on their expert) in matters like this and they said it would damage it. Mike said that when we made the decision they could not use the stadium we said we would bend over backwards to make fields available and now after going up there and measuring we cannot get the 3 fields they need. Charlie asked why 3 fields is this necessary, can they change their times by 30 minutes? Mark said they had a time factor involved and they could not change their schedule 30 minutes. Rae said that there could be damage down the road, damage that might no -'show up after the Ist game or 2nd, but later on. Jeff Dexter said that there might be some damage but he talked to coach at South Alabama and he said it would not be irreversible. Larry Thomas said that se if we monitor it on a week to week basis we could keep up with what is happening out there. Al said that before we had a problem on the fields but since we have put sprinkler systems in all the fields it has been a goal to utilize them more than we have been able to in the past. Mike Ford said that the decision to rescind was based on having heard expert opinion and belief that we could take care of them with the placement of the fields in other areas but after going up there we find we can't do this. Stanley asked if they can't play their games unless they have 3 fields, Mark said no. Larry said it was obvious that we were all for having this for the kids, but we don't have the 3rd field we need to go forward from that angle. Mike asked Mark if he was told damage done to that field, what would he do then, Mark said at this point he really didn't know. But if it is determined that they are doing damage he understands that they won't be able to play on it. Phil mentioned that they had put sand on the field today. Further discussion for and against led to Larry Thomas making a motion to see even with the sanding, for the sake of trying to see if we can do it on the big field, if it can be worked out with the original requirements set out, not play in bad weather, if too much wear on it, being able to accomplish the normal maintenance on the field and with Phil Rutherford checking each week to see condition of field. Richard Bass seconded the motion and the vote was: For - Larry Thomas, Richard Bass, Stanley Fant. Against Charlie Langham, Rae Jackson. Motion carried There being no further business, meeting was duly adjourned.