South Putnam School Board revisits possible youth league football field

Thursday, October 23, 2014

The South Putnam School Board met for its monthly meeting on Monday evening where it once again heard from the South Putnam Football League in regards to the creation of a dedicated field on the northwest corner of the high school lot.

Athletic Director Troy Burgess had previously spoke to the board during its September meeting in hopes of gaining approval for the league to build a field that the youth can not only practice on, but play its games on as well. Although supportive of the idea, the board asked that representatives from the league to come before the board to iron out some final details.

With that in mind, youth league representative John Tomaw came before the board with a detailed plan on how the field will be created as well as an update on the past season.

"The only thing we are asking is to have that part where we practice at be made into a youth football field for the South Putnam Youth League," Tomaw stated. "Our numbers have grown over the years. This year we had 24 kids on rookies, 21 on minors and 25 on majors. We feel that this will be beneficial to the South Putnam Youth Football Program and to the high school by taking games off of the high school field and putting them on our youth field. For instance, if it's a rainy day we won't be playing out there and tearing up the middle of the field or the sidelines."

Tomaw added that the league itself is not asking for any money from the corporation as funding will come from the league itself as well as donations from various local companies.

"We would like to get some sort of a contract or something in writing," board member Wes Hacker said. "Your board changes, our board changes, so to solve the problem down the road, we'd like something cut and dry -- black and white in regards to whose field it is and who is responsible doing this and that."

Tomaw advised the board that two of its board members have at least three years left with the program. However, creating a contract that would include a long range plan for creating the field and stands as well as maintenance, would not be an issue for the league.

Although a supporter of the league itself, board member Anthony Heavin once again voiced his concern about the need for a dedicated space.

"I question whether we need another dedicated field just for youth football," Heavin explained. "I mean, you're talking 15 youth games, which are less than half the length of a varsity game, so you're talking an extra seven games on the field a year. With the necessity question out of the way, I'd like to know if this is sustainable."

With Heavin's concerns in mind, Tomaw noted that the league at this time has roughly $4,200 in its account. However, the league recently talked to Casey's General Store about a fundraising effort in which the league would come up with 65 percent of the cost and Casey's would donate the remaining 35 percent of the cost of the field.

"We've already checked into goal posts," Tomaw said. "I did find some goal posts for $1,200 a piece. I'm also working with Butler's right now to see if they'll come in when we get the space pretty well leveled to fertilize the field as well as put a seed on it. They way they're talking is that they will be on board with us."

In the interim the league will have several port-a-pots near the field until it is able to get a concession stand and usable restrooms built.

"We know this isn't going to be an overnight boom," Tomaw said. "It's going to be a work in progress. Our main goal is the field and the goal posts right now."

Tomaw also gave the board a brief outline of its longterm plan with the creation of the field and goal posts being completed during year one and then the concessions and the bathroom two to three years down the road depending on total funding.

It was also noted that the league is open to letting other teams such as the middle school team use the field especially in such cases of inclement weather, instead of tearing up the high school field teams could use the youth league field instead.

"I think it's a good thing," board member Angie Nichols said. "I commend you on taking it upon yourselves to make it happen."

Although the board as a whole agreed with the idea and will likely approve the youth league to move forward, it recommended that the league come back with a proposal in writing before any work can be done.

"It's more to protect you guys and your investment," Hacker said.

In other business:

* The board approved its 2015 budget, CPF and school bus replacement plans, resolutions and CPF notice of adoption.

* The board approved the hiring of Amy Bates as a Fillmore Elementary School instructional assistant as well as part-time food service worker Christa Stone at Fillmore.

* The board also honored fourth-grade Central Elementary School student Jake Sollman, fifth-grade Fillmore Elementary student John Cash, sixth-grade middle school student Evan Steffy and senior Jake Schroer as its October students of the month.

* The board also approved a $300,000 additional appropriation, which will go toward completing payments.

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