The Warrenton Board of Aldermen approved a revision to their agreement with Game 7 Baseball at their meeting on March 4.
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The Warrenton Board of Aldermen approved a revision to their agreement with Game 7 Baseball at their meeting on March 4.
The cost-share agreement with Game 7 allows them to use the fields for their games and tournaments and in return, the company has been making improvements to the ball fields.
Last year they completed improvements, turfing four of the ball fields at the athletic complex which city Director of Operations Jon Struckhoff said has had a marked impact on the popularity of the complex.
Now they are looking to add an equipment building to the complex to store items like pitching machines and portable pitcher’s mounds.
“They would be responsible for all the costs, materials, labor, everything, to install this,” said City Administrator Brandie Walters. “And then if they were to leave this, we’d be allowed to purchase that, minus depreciation.”
Per the agreement, once the 10-year term is up with Game 7, the city would have the opportunity to purchase the building, but Alderman Larry Corder clarified they would not be required to make the purchase.
Struckhoff also discussed several other improvements that have been made, or will be made to the ball fields as the spring season starts up.
“We’ve added the scoreboards,” said Struckhoff. “They are up and operational, that’s a pretty cool deal.”
The scoreboards were purchased Game 7 at no cost to the city and provide an opportunity for advertising revenue, alongside their use during games, according to Struckhoff. He said the city’s only obligation was to provide electricity for the scoreboards.
He said the city will also be making improvements to the parking lots at the complex, adding lights for safety and additional spots for vehicles.
“That seems like a small upgrade, but it is a big upgrade as far as safety goes,” said Struckhoff.
He said they will also be expanding a parking lot next to the turfed fields to the main walkway, allowing for more space for vehicles, and he acknowledged there may be bigger improvements coming in the future.
“There’s a lot of little projects going on this spring and summer, and then eventually you’ll see some bigger upgrades as time and money allow,” said Struckhoff.
He clarified the parking lot improvements would be completed dependent on weather.
He continued saying the city hoped to turf additional fields in the future through the agreement with Game 7, which has nine years remaining, but it depends on available funding.
“We’ve shown how beneficial the turf fields are, and we would love to expand and keep offering more of those,” said Struckhoff.
He did also express his appreciation for Game 7 and said the cost-share agreement has and will continue to have a positive impact for the city.
“The agreement that we have with that company is saving the city a lot of money,” said Struckhoff.
