BY CURTIS CARDEN
STAR STAFF
curtis.carden@elizabethton.com
Four different sectors in the City of Elizabethton are in line to receive financial assistance.
City Council voted Thursday to pass a resolution to distribute $2,628,539,63 worth of bond funding to go to four different entities; Joe O’Brien Field ($1.5 million), the Elizabethton Police Department ($1 million), Elizabethton Golf Course ($100,000) and the Bonnie Kate Theater ($28,539.63).
The final passage saw a change from the original resolution with Councilman Jeff Treadway asking for an amendment that included $25,000 be pulled from the golf course and the $3,000-plus come from the police department.
Treadway added the reasoning for the change was to assist the Bonnie Kate, a city-owned building, with further restoration, including work to the roof and sprinkler system.
John Huber, downtown business owner, and Bonnie Kate Board member, added the facility has a contractor willing to donate but funds needed to cover engineering costs along with actual work to both different facets.
Bonnie Kate will see some additional funds come through September 23 with the inaugural BBQ, Blue & Brews Festival at Covered Bridge Park, Huber added. Grants could be on the horizon, according to Huber, but funding wouldn’t be available until 2018. The facility is also looking to procure a tenant or possible tenants to use the facility as a home base for businesses.
Before voting in favor of the measure, Council also learned more about the current status of negotiations with the Minnesota Twins in regards to their minor league affiliate currently housed at Joe O’Brien.
Mayor Curt Alexander and City Manager Jerome Kitchens both spoke to attendees and mentioned that during a recent conference call with Minnesota that the offer of Minnesota contributing money to renovations is currently off the table with “no reason why.”
Pinning down a long term commitment also didn’t reap any success, Alexander added, but Elizabethton Twins General Manager and Parks and Recreation Director Mike Mains stated that a new contract would be in effect for 2018-2020 due to upcoming contract negotiations with the league and that no team currently has a long term plan pegged.
With the $1.5 million, Mains added the visitor’s clubhouse would be renovated to help pull the facility within MiLB standards. According to Thursday’s discussions, any improvements at the facility would be utilized by the city, along with the Twins, including the Elizabethton High School baseball team.
Richard Barker also addressed the Council and stated talks after speaking with Minnesota president Dave St. Peter that the club would want to stay if the city committed to having improvements go on at the location.
While the conference call netted some apprehension, Alexander added discussions with the club have been beneficial recently and he would speak with the Minnesota president following Thursday’s meeting and would look to have some answers to Council by Friday.
After concerns were raised by Councilman Jeff Treadway about spending the money for the possibility of the team not returning, Alexander stated he would bring said concerns to St. Peter during their discussion.
Barker has played a key role with the improvements by offering to donate $28,000 to pay for architectural designs by Thomas Weems, which was also passed during Thursday’s meeting.
Community support will be the key for success moving forward; Mains also told Council members. The director added the facility is looking to expand its grasp with the facility by offering different events at the park. To assist with the busy schedule by the department, Mains added he would like to see either a possible assistant general manager or a new general manager to handle the operation of the club, whether it be Minnesota or another minor league affiliate.