Council hesitant to invest funds on park property it doesn’t own
In a vote of 2 to 1, the Jay Town Council approved turning down the American Legion's latest proposal that would allow the large baseball field to be included in the town's park renovation, scheduled to begin this July. Councilwoman Nina Hendricks voted no and council members Josh Holloway and Mayor Shon Owens voted yes. Councilwoman Jane Hayes was not present.
The proposal submitted by the legion was $25,000 up front with a $250 a month payment for a 50-year lease, although the lease length may have been negotiable. Had the proposal been accepted, the town would have included the field in its renovation and made around $400,000 worth of improvements to it.
Discussion led to an estimate by Dewberry Engineering's Crystal Weatherington that the town would invest $400,000 in the field.
“So you're talking about a half million dollars for this field invested,” said Mayor Owens.
“Into a piece if land we really don't own, because it's a lease,” said Holloway.
“I like it,”said Hendricks. “I want to do it. It's just a relationship there that you build. You're good stewards of it. This is a historical setting. I do not want it to be a spite field, and that's what it's going to be.”
Hendricks said she felt like it would be the town of Jay's for all practical purposes.
Holloway reminded the council that when they start cutting costs to be able to build a $4 million park with less money, the American Legion field is something that can be cut.
Council members discussed how much will have to be cut from the plan as it progresses and the value for what the American Legion is asking. It was noted that for the last 40 years, there has been no charge to use the field and now it will be different.
Owens brought up that incorporating it as another phase into the park in the future may be a possibility.
“That's kind of the answer that I need,” said Weatherington. “If this is going to be something we pursue later on down the road, I need to make sure we leave that footprint of all the improvements that are tied to that field.”
Owens said he thinks the lump sum money gives him pause, not the monthly $250, but the fact that the town will not own the land could set up the American Legion to walk away with a field the town spent money on that it does now own.
“They will set it up where they have the right to walk away from the lease in 10 years and they could choose to say 'we're not going to renew this' and we have now spent $425,000 on this land that is theirs,” said Owens.
He said from a return on your investment standpoint, it is hard to swallow. Holloway reiterated that cutting that field out of the plan will cut a half million dollars on the entire project.
Weatherington pointed out that if the American Legion did take it back, the town would not be able to use any facilities built on it permanently.
“So essentially, if they decided to take it back, you would have a property line that runs right down the middle of a baseball field,” said Holloway.
Weatherington said yes.
Owens said one of his concerns was the length of the lease, expressing concern on locking future leaders and monies into a contract. Holloway said his main concern is not owning the property. Hendricks reminded him the town has never owned it, but used it for 40 years.
In other business, the council:
-Heard updates that the natural gas line extension down Pine Level Church Road contract bid will be put out by Florida Gas Utilities as part of a two-part bid process to get a better deal
-Approved a donation of $500 and permission to utilize the town's portable bleachers to Jay Pro Rodeo for this year's event April 29 and 30
-Tabled a cost-of-living wage increase for Jay town employees
-Approved the new sign for the upcoming renovation of the Dollar General on Commerce Street
The next meeting will be at 6 p.m., Monday, May 2, at Jay City Hall.
