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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-19-1997 Regular MeetingThe Recreation Board of the City of Fairhope met Wednesday, February 19, 1997 at 6:30 PM at the City Administration Building, 161 N. Section Street. Present: Chairman Richard Bass; members Charlie Langham, Bob Callahan, Trisha McMahon, Rae Jackson. Mike Ford, Council Liaison; Phil Rutherford, Facilities Director; Eddie Boyett, Recreation Director; Betty Rivenbark, Secretary Richard recognized our guests present tonight, Coach Tyler, Coach Morris, Coach Busby and Coach Sharp. Coach Morris, the girls softball coach, spoke saying she came tonight to talk about the girls softball program and that there were some things she wished to address to the board. She handed out a sheet and said these were things that she considered as priorities. She went down the line listing each: storage, regulation field, access to batting cages, scheduling, clean-up Stimpson Field, fundraising. She said that there is really no storage at Stimpson for them to use permanently therefore they are having to bring equipment back and forth, she would like to build 5X5 building for their use only to hold equipment, and they are willing to raise the money; regulation field - that they have heard of a temporary fence that could be used(Eddie said he had some that like the telephone company uses, but would have to be mounted on poles) but they would like someone to put them up/take down for games; access to batting cages- she showed on a drawing a place where she could put 2 batting cages and said they could use the ones at Volanta but it was really not practical. Scheduling- she said last year they had a problem with the little girls sharing a dugout while they were trying to play a high school game. Eddie told her that should not be happening and that she should go ahead and reserve two fields. Clean-up Stimpson Field -that they would like to have a fresh coat of paint and logo on the building; she said they could raise the money. Fundraising - they would like to sell signs like the high school baseball team does at Volanta and also she asked about concessions. She asked further about having a clinic and using the small bats/balls. She was told she would have to get in touch with Jim Curenton on bats/balls as he is president of this league. Also, that girls softball runs the concession stand but she could talk to them about doing it during their games. Bob Callahan told her that we hope they will be on the new field next year by the high school and that we really would not like to put a lot of money into Stimpson. She was told plans of what we hope to have at new site. She said they were going to paint a tarp w/pirate on it and put it where people would not be continually coming into the dugout. Bob did tell her to get in touch with Dan Boone, Jim Curenton, Jimbo Martin that they all have children in program and are willing to work. They told her they would discuss her concerns further and get back with her. Joe Sharp the Track & Field Coach at the high school was also present. He had written a letter back in December and we had asked that he come up and explain what he wanted to do out at Volanta. He went over with the board what he is facing as coach and how he is trying to build up the program. He is asking that we look into resurfacing the track as it is uneven in places and not usable. He said that in the county Daphne has the only track with lights and he would like to be able to host meets also. He outlined what he would like to do at Volanta to be able to do shot put, disc and put in pits to do this in. Discussion was held on places to put these pits. Eddie told the board that he had talked to Tommy Long about price of asphalt, $15-$20 a ton but he had not gotten back with him on final price. They told him to get with Eddie to see what he could work out on the pits and we did not know what we could do about the track but we would continue to pursue it. Coach Tyler spoke saying he was just here to support the others. He said he is trying to bring quality back to Fairhope High School, that he is getting quality help, appreciates the coaches, and appreciates what the city does. Bob asked him about summer camps, Coach Tyler said he is talking to his coaches about this nothing permanent to report now. He thanked the board and they left. The minutes were looked at and duly approved as written on motion by Charlie Langham, seconded by Bob Callahan and unanimously carried. The bills were considered and approved for payment on motion by Charlie Langham, seconded by Bob Callahan and unanimously carried. The fence situation was reported on by Eddie Boyett. He said he talked to Tut Wynne, the City Attorney, and that Tut said that we would be okey putting one fence up where needed to prevent loose balls as we would be correcting a problem, and he did not see that we would be open up to liability on other fields at this time. Eddie said further that it would take $300-400 to put the fence up. Phil reported on the lawsuit of the child killed at the park by the guy wire and what we are doing to correct the situation, that we are putting yellow strips on the ones we can't take down under the Mayor's direction and fencing. Richard said he just wanted it known that the Mayor was directing what was to be done. The board talked further about the new signs we were putting up as a result of this and what allowed/not allowed in the park. Eddie said he has not realigned the lights at Stimpson yet, but that they had been working on the field at the new high school all day and it is about ready. He said further that he had been working with Clay Adams and they laid out the fields and gave a copy to Johnny Baker. Since Larry was not present tonight no one knew exactly what the situation was on the land. Eddie also reported on new gym saying that Tim Kant and his crew have been working on it and they will be finishing the interior of the building. That decisions need to be made and should coordinate with Eddie. The carpet was talked about versus tile floor. It was the consensus of the board that they wished to stay with the carped and a motion was made by Charlie Langham seconded by Bob Callahan that the board go on record as wanting carpet in the new gym unless there is some overriding reason, then Tim can come to the board and discuss it. Motion carried unanimously. Eddie asked what were we going to do with girls softball requests. He was told that they could paint and clean-up and as far as the signs go they would have to do the same, fall under same guidelines we set down for Volanta Field signs, they would have to put up and take down after season, that we would have to okey the lettering and size. Trisha McMahon put in the form of a motion that they do the same as the boys, Bob Callahan seconded and motion carried unanimously. Eddie asked about Joe Sharp and it was decided that we could do nothing at this time on track, but get with him on shot put, discus, long jump areas. The net to catch loose balls was discussed again and Bob asked Eddie to have a firm price by the next meeting. There being no further business, meeting was duly adjourned.