03-25-1996 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE REGULAR ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON MARCH 25,1996 ( #8 - Bederwood - Continued) • Rick Kiemen, a board member of the Orono Baseball Association, asked to clarify to the Council that the OBA was in agreement with the current contract for two nights usage at Bederwood and was satisfied. Kiemen said the board feels the Council, as well as its individual members, have shown support for OBA. Kiemen said the Girls Softball has a need for more fields and would like to swap a night. The OBA has two nights at Bederwood, 5 at Carlson Fields, and 3 at Holbrook. He said the girls have two new teams and came to the OBA with the idea for the trade. Kiemen said they are satisfied with the current arrangements but would agree to the proposal to assist softball. Goetten suggested alternatives with the use of the Orono Primary School on Friday nights and the field at the church near Saga Hill as valid options for the softball dilemma. Goetten said this provides available fields for the girls to use and emphasized the City's attempt to accommodate the softball organization. Goetten said she sees no need to break the contract that was made with the OBA and is concerned with the idea of doing so. Breaking a contract, according to Goetten, says something about the integrity of those people establishing the contract. Goetten said expanding the use of the field would set a precedent and teach children that it was okay to break a contract. Goetten sees the alternative options provide a win/win situation. Jabbour said he would like to try to find a way to accommodate the shortage of fields for the girls softball so everyone could play. He noted the process by which the City • operates to allow changes. He felt that the information had been incomplete when presented to the City and Commissions noting that the association who applied for the usage were not those who wanted to use the facility. Jabbour asked if play at Hackberry could be a solution to the shortage. Meyers said the field was suitable for only the youngest, t -ball players and is very wet. With improvements to drainage and back stops, Meyers said they would be happy to play at this park. Jabbour noted the need for the community at large to work together. He voiced concern with meeting the needs of all four school districts represented in Orono. Jabbour said he was personally receptive to making fields available and disbursing activity throughout the City. He said he cares for all of the school districts and would like to see Mound School District making use of the parks and providing improvements for them as well. Jabbour said there was little time to react to the need presented by the Girls Softball in the time allowed. Jabbour inquired about the growth of Girls Softball. • 8