By Traci Chapman/Staff Writer
published Jan. 3, 2008

RELATED STORY: Proposal sparks questions

Ward 1 Councilman Jay Adams is spearheading the effort to “give residents the full picture” on a possible $2.8 million bond issue that would finance new baseball fields.

Voters shot down a previous $4.5 million proposal in December 2006. The new proposal has been scaled back, Parks and Recreation Director Justin Battles said. One field and most of the soccer complex was cut, and changes were made to the concession stand and restrooms. Total proposed cost for the now six-field project is just under $2.8 million.

Battles said while new soccer fields are not included in the bond proposal, it does not mean they have been scrapped from the project.
“We have determined that if we can get the vote to move forward with the baseball complex, we should be able to find a way to do the soccer fields internally,” Battles said.

Adams, who coached baseball for six years, said it is hard to forget his players’ reaction to Mustang’s “shameful home fields” during his tenure as coach.

“First there’s the smell. It’s pretty bad when you look at your kids, and they’re all holding their noses because of the smell,” he said. “Then — what’s worse — is when the wind is coming from the wrong direction, you actually get spray from the wastewater ponds. That’s not just unpleasant, it must be unhealthy for our players and their coaches.”

Adams said he has a plan to overcome voter resistance to the idea — giving the most detailed information possible — and he is going to take his show “on the road” so he can speak to as many residents as possible about the need for new fields.

“Last time we didn’t really enlighten voters. We failed by not giving enough information,” he said. “That’s not going to happen this time.”

Adams said he would go to Chamber of Commerce luncheons, local meetings and churches — wherever he can speak to the public about how new fields would benefit the city.

“Those boys deserve to go out on a field where they’re not embarrassed. I’ve been out there with them, and they deserve a quality facility,” he said. “If we have fields they can be proud of, it won’t just help the boys playing but will be of benefit to everyone in the form of increased tax revenue and pride in our city.”

Adams said sports garner interest in a community, and a quality facility would help Mustang compete with other cities for sales tax revenue.

“Businesses will sponsor our teams, outside business owners will see our quality facilities — not just the baseball park, but the Town Center, Wild Horse Park, other things we are offering as a city — and it would be a form of economic development for us,” he said. “People who come for games also eat and shop in Mustang.”

Not all Council members agree with the baseball field proposal. Mayor Jeff Landrith said he is not against the idea of new fields, but he does have a problem with the price tag presented by city staff.

“I have a problem with $3 million for baseball fields,” he said. “I think you’re going to have a problem getting the voters to go for $3 million.”

Ward 4 Councilman Keith Bryan said while he does want a new baseball complex and he does not have an issue with the $3 million proposal, he voted against it being part of the bond issue presented to voters in April, which also includes a separate ballot for $5 million in street improvements.

“The streets are so important that I don’t want that to be defeated because of the baseball issue,” he said. “I’m not against the fields at all — I just would like to see it come to the voters at a separate time.”

Council members recently approved a $5 million bond issue for improvements to two miles of Czech Hall Road, split into two one-mile sections between SW 59th Street and state Highway 152 and south from state Highway 152 to SW 89th Street.

Improvements are for a total reconstruction of the two-mile stretch, and City Manager David Cockrell said the project is not just a road project, but will also address drainage issues. The proposal also includes the addition of a turn lane into Mustang Centennial Elementary.

Ward 2 Councilwoman Kathleen Moon said North Czech Hall Road’s drainage issues pose a real danger for drivers.

“There are significant drainage problems along Czech Hall, particularly North Czech Hall,” she said. “I have seen so many accidents — we need to do something about this.”

Shane Smith with Garver Engineers agreed the city has “drainage issues on the north side” of Czech Hall Road and said the proposal will improve the open channel ditches that run along the street, easing those issues.

Adams said he believes residents will be able to see that there are two separate issues, and the city needs both the baseball complex and the proposed street improvements.

“The value far outweighs the cost,” he said. “Both issues greatly improve our city and the quality of life here. We need to make sure residents see just how little they are paying for a lot of benefit.

“I am really passionate about this issue, and I want to do what’s right for the future of these kids and the kids who may have just gotten a ball and mitt for Christmas that dream of playing in the future,” he said. “ We really need this facility, and the longer we wait, the more it’s going to cost. If people understand that at it’s highest point, the cost is $1.50 per month (for a homeowner whose home has an assessed value of $100,000), that is really insignificant when you compare it to a child growing up and to the memories that child might have.”

At press time, City Council had not yet met to approve the bond issue. If approved by Council and if the city calls for an election by Jan. 31, both issues — baseball fields and street replacement — will go to voters April 1.