HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-20-2005 Regular MeetingPage 1 of 3
City of Fairhope
Recreation Board
July 20, 2005
MINUTES
Present: Jim Godfrey, Sherry Sullivan, Mike Ford, Charlie Langham, Vann Saltz, Derick Thomas,
Guests: Mike Baugh, Debbie Quinn, Nina McBride, Jack Russo, Tommy Faust, Sean Harris, Bryan
Seibt, Randy Walton, Dennis Sherrin, Steve Griffis
NEW BUSINESS
Charlie Langham opened the meeting and turned it over to the guests.
Mike Baugh came to thank the Recreation Board and Eddie for their support during his 2 year term as
president of the Fairhope Youth Baseball League. He gave kudos to Tom Kuhl for going a great job and
being very professional. Mike distributed a letter to all members of the Recreation Board.
Charlie Langham commented on how well the League had ran under Mike and that we have 2 teams
from the league representing Fairhope at the State level.
Sean Harris was at the meeting representing the Youth Football League. He spoke about the need for
facilities for youth football and stated he will address the city council on Monday night (July 25). The
reported that the league now serves over 200 kids participating in football and cheerleading. He stated
that the league may be in apposition to help out financially with any future growth. He also requested
that the league presidents be notified of the Recreation Board meetings so all groups may work together.
Jack Russo reported that he met with the Mayor and feels that they Mayor supports his plans for tennis
at Stimpson field. He talked about the existing courts and said he feels that they are beyond repair. The
courts need concrete caulking to get by. Eddie Boyett reported that he is working with Craig Shields,
Tennis Pro, to patch the courts. Jack stated that a long range plan is not an option for the existing courts.
Councilperson Debbie Quinn attended the meeting to give an update on the skate park. Debbie stated
that approximately 6 weeks ago she started working with a group of interested parties to research a skate
park. The group agreed to the location already designed for the skate park on Volanta and had started
inquiring about an ADECA grant. The grant had a deadline of August 20 and they needed 30- days to
prepare for the grant so they were going to put off any plans of a skate park for 1 year. They will apply
for grant next year. She also reported that the group is working with the police dept. to do a skateboard
demo day in September. Craig Sawyer has been assisting with this event.
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Nina McBride also present at the meeting and representing the skate park stated that she hoped the
skate demo would serve as a community awareness program and possible a fund raiser for a future skate
park. She stated that a skate park would be a nice recreational options for people who are just visiting
the area and would also enhance our other recreational programs.
Councilperson Debbie Quinn also expressed the need to find grants to fund to her recreation programs.
She has talked with a professional grant writer.
She also stated that she had spoken with Larry Thomas, President of the Fairhope Single Tax
Association and he is interested in helping the City acquire some land to move the men's softball field
too. There is an area to the East of Colony Place that may be an option. Councilman Mike Ford stated
that land was given to the City as an environmental park and there may need to be more conversation
with the Fairhope Single Tax Association about how that area could be used as a recreational complex.
Jack Russo suggested that the City use more retired engineers to volunteer their time and expertise for
recreation projects.
Vann Saltz questioned weather the skate park would run like the tennis courts.
Councilperson Debbie Quinn responded that all details have been finalized and that it would up to the
Recreation Board and the Recreation Dept. to decide the rules, hours, staffing, etc. She also stated that it
would need to be decided id the park would be concrete only or concrete with modular.
Councilman Mike Ford ask Nina McBride if the skate board parents were any closer to organizing
themselves like the other leagues in town.
Ms. McBride stated that skateboarding is not typically an organized sport. She said you just post the
rules and expect them to be followed. She also stated that there is currently legislation in place to
counter any liability. Councilperson Debbie Quinn had obtained a copy of the legislation from the AL
League of Municipalities. Councilman Mike Ford stated he would be in Montgomery soon and would
speak to AL League of Municipalities representatives about the legislation.
Eddie Boyett stated that when the City first started talking about a skateboard park that he meet with
John Strickland from ADECA. Mr. Strickland told Mr. Boyett that once the City finished the sidewalk
project that they would likely be eligible for a grant for the skateboard park but the sidewalk project
needed to be finished first.
Dennis Sherrin with the Fairhope Youth Soccer League reported that soccer is going well, they have a
great league and appreciate the good work of Tom Kohl and Daniel Moore. He stated the program is
growing and now they serve over 850 kids during the fall and spring seasons. Dennis reported the league
continues to provide coaches training and education. He also stated that the concession stand has been a
great help in providing the league with funding necessary for field improvements, etc. He stated that this
year they hope to help purchase goals for the fields. Dennis also reiterated that the individual leagues
should work together to do what is best for the kids and all recreation programs in Fairhope.
Randy Walton, president of the Fairhope Youth Soccer League again thanked the City and Recreation
Board for all their help and support. He stated that as the league grows it has helped kids who participate
in the recreational league excel at the sport and compete for scholarships.
Vann Saltz questioned the hole and drainage problem at Founder's Park Soccer Complex. Eddie Boyett
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stated that he met with the mayor on 7-19-05 and that problem would be fixed. Eddie also discussed the
possibility of covering the ditch at Founder's park to allow for more parking and an additional entrance
to the soccer fields.
Councilman Mike Ford stated that the money to cover the ditch and to create a 2nd entrance may come
from the improvement fund. He stated once the road at Volanta is complete the football restrooms that
we might be able to look at the covering the ditch.
Eddie Boyett thanked all volunteers. He stated that they Mayor gets few complaints from Recreation
and it is because of the great volunteers.
Councilman Mike Ford thanked Eddie Boyett for his leadership and hands on management style.
Vann Saltz stated that Fairhope Youth Baseball had recently hosted teams from out of town and
received many compliments on the park.
OLD BUISNESS
Eddie Boyett reported that his truck had been ordered and cost $18,000 and that the bid for the road at
Volanta had been awarded to Beasley & Company (same company doing sidewalk project). The total
cost of the project is $8,100.
There was also discussion about the portable restrooms for the upcoming football season. Sherry
Sullivan will research and get costs to Eddie Boyett for further discussion.
A motion was made by Jim Godfrey to adjourn and 2nd by Derick Thomas.
Meeting was adjourned at approximately 7:50 p.m.
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