Softball parents ask council for help

Local News

June 23, 2009

By Brenda L. Holmes The Hendricks County Flyer Tue Jun 23, 2009, 05:15 PM EDT

PLAINFIELD —

Softball coaches and parents addressed the town council here to discuss some pressing financial issues and town leaders seemed receptive to coming up with a resolution.

Plainfield Girls’ Softball Association coach Perry Starkey said the PGSA is dealing with some new charges for use of town facilities that they are not used to paying.

The league’s new contract calls for an added $62 per field fee during tournaments. The group was also asked to stop charging gate fees because the tournaments are played in taxpayer funded public parks.

“I am hoping you will reconsider the charges, at least for this year,” Starkey said. “We now have a per diamond fee and have lost the ability to charge a gate fee.”

Council president Robin Brandgard asked if the charges were different than what they agreed to pay in the contract.

“It’s my understanding these fees are in the contract,” he said.

Park Director Clay Chafin said he met with PGSA officials last year and they signed the cooperative agreement that went into affect this year.

“The fees they are talking about are those tournaments they hold outside their normal post season play,” Chafin said. “We have to have a staff member there to take care of the facilities. And we can’t have a fee per car to get into a public park.”

Chafin said the board’s signatory signed the contract and was aware of the new fees. The town has taken over much of the maintenance responsibilities.

Chafin said he has been working with Richard Rose of the PGSA to work out a plan to help them this year.

“We have talked about waiving the per field rental fee this year,” he said. “In the new agreement, the town has taken over utilities and maintenance. We are doing everything right down to purchasing the chalk. The new agreement is good for everyone.”

Council member Renea Whicker said the new contract changes many responsibilities between the town and the association and that this is just a transition period.

“There are different expectations in maintenance from who is going to add dirt to the fields to who maintains the bathrooms,” she said.

Council member Gill Kirkoff said the town is more than willing to work with the PGSA.

“I think if we work together, we can get this all worked out,” he said. “We will get over this bump in the road.”

Chafin said they have already discussed the town absorbing the per field fee this year.

“Hopefully, they will have a volunteer who can share the maintenance like changing out the trash cans since we will not be able to have a person there,” he said.

Melissa Baker, a parent and volunteer, asked the board to reconsider the use of gate fees.

“These families are accustomed to paying gate fees,” she said. “They can be used to help you guys. We used them to help pay for equipment and umpire fees.”

She said a tournament can bring in about $3,000 in gate fees, and umpire fees for the same day can be $3,700.

Brandgard thanked all of the representatives from the PGSA for attending the meeting and said, “We will keep up the communication on this.”

Chafin said he would continue to work with the PGSA to help them get through this transition period.

brenda.holmes@flyergroup.com

Text Only

Local News

County looks to battle water illnesses
The week prior to Memorial Day serves as National Recreational Water Illness Prevention Week.

May 23, 2012
Howie Mandel to serve as 500 honorary announcer
Howie Mandel, standup comedian and judge on “America’s Got Talent,” will serve as honorary announcer for the 96th Indianapolis 500 Mile Race on May 27.

May 23, 2012
Why do young white women risk cancer to be tan?
A CDC report out this month found that nearly one in three white women aged 18 to 25 had used a tanning booth in the previous year. White women aged 18 to 21 went the most often, averaging 27.6 sessions per year—that’s over two sessions per month—while nearly 70 percent said they had gone at least 10 times in the last year.

May 23, 2012 1 Photo
BCSC raises $30,000 for Race for the Cure
Basketball season may have ended a few months ago for the Bulldog community, but the school system decided to give the Susan G. Komen Foundation one extra large, record assist as they recently announced raising $30,000 in the Race for the Cure fight against breast cancer.

May 22, 2012 1 Photo
Drive for Damon golf scramble set
A golf scramble to raise money for disabled former Ben Davis High School basketball star Damon Parks is set for 1 p.m. June 3 at Riverside Golf Course in Indianapolis.

May 22, 2012
Brownsburg fights back with Relay for Life
For 24 hours, it will be non-stop community versus cancer in town as the Relay for Life event will takes place. The event will start at 5 p.m. June 1 at the Brownsburg West Middle School track.

May 22, 2012
Dawes, county celebrate retirement
The impact that Dennis Dawes has left on Hendricks Regional Health will not be soon forgotten.

May 22, 2012 4 Photos
Young racing team plants roots and more in Brownsburg
When Belardi Racing decided to uproot its operation and move to Hendricks County, they got the idea that maybe they should put some roots down.

May 22, 2012 1 Photo
500 Festival celebrates with breakfast event
With practices and qualifications going on at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Saturday was a busy day for everyone involved.

May 22, 2012 3 Photos
Relay returns
With battling cancer and raising awareness in mind, the Wayne Township area hosted its Relay for Life this past weekend at the Chapel Hill 7th and 8th Grade Center.

May 22, 2012 2 Photos
More Local News Headlines

Local News

Search Results

Softball parents ask council for help

Would you support a same-sex marriage amendment in Indiana?

Site Map