Council approves youth baseball field in Memorial Park following hot debate

by Beth Kraft

Over 50 people packed the City Council chambers on Tuesday, July 14, to weigh in on a proposed youth baseball field in Memorial Park.

Following multiple meetings by the Mondovi Parks Commission over the past few months and several conversations about the Mondovi Youth Baseball Association’s proposal at regular Council meetings, the field was unanimously recommended by the Parks Commission and last week received the majority vote, 4-3, by the Council in favor of the proposal.

Several Council members were clearly torn between the opinions of vocal residents who live near the park and don’t want the field put in that location and the wishes of the MYBA.

Youth baseball reps have explained their group currently boasts over 300 youth players, plus over 100 girls softball players in the MAA. Both are in need of another field to accommodate baseball and softball games and practices. The fact that both fields and the MYBA’s new batting cages, installed this spring, would be contained in one area within walking distance of the Mondovi Schools was seen as a logical option in the interests of convenience and safety.

Nancy Polzer, chairwoman of the Parks Commission, who was in attendance at the Council meeting to answer questions, noted the MYBA “stepped up to the plate” with its plan to improve the park. The plan also provides amenities that would benefit many people without asking for city tax dollars, she said.

Polzer also pointed out that the original intents for Memorial Park when it was founded in 1967 were taken into consideration, as one-third of the total area will remain arboretum.

In addition to the new field, Polzer listed other perks to the MYBA’s plan for the park’s recreational space, such as installing new playground equipment and a walking path as well as renovating/replacing existing bathrooms and planting new trees at a 2:1 ratio to replace those that are either diseased or need to be removed to make way for the field.

MYBA treasurer Tim Schlosser said the group has the funds to make the new field happen anytime, plus many businesses and organizations have promised money to help complete the other projects and help the MYBA maintain the facilities.

“We could basically put the fence up right now ourselves,” Schlosser told the Council.

The fence surrounding the baseball field is estimated to cost about $26,000, Schlosser said. Other costs associated with the field, such as hydro-seeding, lime screenings and surveying the site could cost an additional $25,000 or so.

“Our community is waiting to do this,” Schlosser pleaded.

He noted baseball is a great way to get kids active, plus the new field and its components would be positive for the community as a whole and a safe place for kids to play.

Councilman Jerry Rud questioned why the Olson property, located next to the Tourist Park, was no longer an option for the field.

The MYBA was one of several organizations that encouraged city leaders to purchase the property last year when it was offered up for sale.

Ardyth Brenner, whose property borders Memorial Park near the proposed baseball field site, referenced a July 3, 2014, article from the Mondovi Herald regarding a public hearing that was held June 24, 2014, to discuss the possibility of purchasing the Olson property.

Brenner said the article seemed to indicate that the city pursued the property to be used by the MYBA for baseball fields.

However, that July 3, 2014, article also referenced other ideas for the park that were discussed at the public hearing, such as the Mondovi Area Historical Society’s interest in utilizing the old farmhouse and buildings and ideas for expanding camping at the Tourist Park.

Those facts were not offered up by Brenner as a reminder to the audience, perhaps misleading those in attendance as to the article’s contents and accuracy in reporting the events of that June 24, 2014, meeting.

For the record, the City Council on June 24, 2014, voted to pursue negotiations on the price of the Olson property. Once the city’s offer was accepted, city leaders at a July 22, 2014, meeting discussed potential uses for the new public park space and encouraged groups to bring their ideas. At no point did the Council vote to purchase the Olson property specifically for a youth baseball field.

To clarify the MYBA’s role in encouraging the city to purchase the Olson property, Schlosser noted he had understood there was no chance of ever being allowed to place another baseball field in Memorial Park. When it was brought up in a discussion with the Parks Commission this spring, the group encouraged him to research the idea and come up with a proposal, which caused the MYBA’s plans to change, Schlosser said.

At that point, with the discussion beginning to heat up, the Council agreed to open the subject up to debate by those in attendance.

Some noted they have seen many of the fields in town sitting empty this summer.

Schlosser explained baseball has moved to more of a spring league with games in May and June. At this point, the season is over for many teams, he said.

Councilman David Holden said he’s been hearing complaints from the park’s neighbors and sees the baseball field space crunch as a “scheduling issue.”

Baseball reps said changing the timing of the season isn’t possible because they play teams from other communities who abide by the same spring/early summer schedule.

July is hot and families go on vacation at this time of year, Schlosser said, calling the shift a sign of the “changing times.”

Lengthy petitions for and against the MYBA’s field proposal were then presented to the Council by park neighbor Ron Brenner and Schlosser, though some questioned if those who signed Brenner’s petition were correctly informed of the MYBA’s plan.

Rumors were going around Mondovi that trees in the arboretum would be cut down for the field, Schlosser said.

Polzer clarified that the proposal calls for the field to be placed in Memorial Park, not in the arboretum.

No more than seven trees will be cut down to create space for the baseball field, Schlosser said.

Al Norby argued the field would cause additional traffic on Mill Street and could negatively affect the property values of homes there. He said he was in favor of an additional youth baseball field, just not in Memorial Park.

Norby also called for the MYBA to provide a more detailed plan for its new field, though a map of the field was presented to the Council. Schlosser also read off the MYBA’s step-by-step plan for installing the field and regular maintenance.

Also in attendance were several parents of baseball youths, who argued Memorial Park is the best site for the field for safety reasons.

Parks Commission member Brian Bollinger said he received only two phone calls against the MYBA’s proposal.

“When I voted ‘yes’ I voted for the greater good of the community,” he said.

Councilman Dan Johnson said it was a “hard decision” with strong opinions both for and against the MYBA’s proposal.

Despite multiple debates in recent weeks, “we still can’t come up with a clear-cut solution,” Johnson said.

Councilman Mike Krisik admitted he’s changed his opinion on the project in the interests of youth safety as discussions on the field have taken place.

He said the Council should trust the decision made by the Parks Commission, which was a 5-0 vote in favor of the baseball field proposal.

“That’s why we have these different groups,” Krisik said.

After conducting her own research, Councilwoman Lori Larson estimated that about 98 percent of the people she talked to about the project have never been into the back area at Memorial Park. More people would use the park if the MYBA’s plan is put to use, she reasoned.

“We need to do what is best for our community and for our children who are our future,” Larson said.

Following nearly two hours of discussion and debate, the recommendation of a youth baseball field at Memorial Park was finally voted on by the Council and approved with Larson, Krisik, Scott Lubinsky and Lynn Smith all voting ‘yes.’ Holden, Johnson and Rud cast the ‘no’ votes.

Prior to the vote, Councilman Rud suggested putting the field proposal to a referendum vote to get a better feel for what Mondovi citizens want, but the motion died on the floor without a second.

Mondovi Mayor Treig Pronschinske remarked that a referendum vote couldn’t take place until February or March at this point and would be an expense for the city. Others argued no tax dollars will be used to fund the MYBA’s field project, so a referendum vote doesn’t make sense. 

In other business that night, the Council approved commendations for three former Council members to recognize their many years of service to the city.

Beginning his service in 1987, Ed Adams represented Ward 3 for nine years, then was the alderman at-large for 18 years. Robert Holden was the Ward 3 rep for close to 19 years, and Galen Hagen served as Ward 2 alderman for nearly six years.

The Council has also discussed the pigeon and goose populations that plague certain areas of the city.

The use of goose repellent at Mirror Lake and pigeon reproduction control and nest removal downtown are ideas that have been mentioned, both at the July 14 meeting and at a special Council meeting held July 1.

The Council moved to table the topic to a future meeting to continue to conduct research into possible solutions to curb the messy birds.

Also discussed that night was the process of moving to adopt GASB 34 accounting standards. 

Councilwoman Smith has pushed the importance of adopting GASB 34, noting she decided to run for Council to keep tabs on city finances. She also reminded city leaders that the city’s auditing firm has recommended adopting GASB 34 for the past 10 years and it still hasn’t been done.

Several comparable area municipalities with staff that are similar in size to Mondovi currently follow GASB 34, Smith shared, such as Osseo, Amery, Chetek and Ellsworth.

City leaders have argued in the past that adopting GASB 34 would come with increased auditing costs. 

Smith detailed multiple benefits that could be realized by making the move to GASB 34, such as getting city finances in compliance with financial standards, obtaining a “clean” opinion on the annual audit to better understand the city’s financial position, and the ability to depreciate city equipment, among other perks.

The City of Mondovi currently contracts with Baker Tilly, but bidding out the city’s auditing tasks and the cost of adopting GASB 34 will be investigated.

Also that night, the Council approved the following:

• request from Mondovi Hardware Co. owner Sara Erickson for removal of two trees in front of storefront

• hire Lynn Hartung for reserve police officer

• additional list of licenses