Pending any last minute changes to the agenda, the City of Elizabethton Regional Planning Commission will add their input into potential new improvements at Joe O’Brien Field.

Commissioners will meet this evening with a relatively short agenda, which includes a resolution to approve a 4.7-acre project involving the Elizabethton Twins clubhouse.

According to the application for the site plan, the applicant is Populous, Inc., an architectural firm based out of Kansas City, Mo. The plan includes work to the clubhouse and a wall behind home plate.

Populous, Inc., is the firm that Minnesota has pegged to handle potential construction. Minnesota first brought the company before the city when they approached officials with a document in April that indicated they would work solely on construction drawings with their own party, Populous, for $142,000 in regards to construction. According to the April document, if the company put the contract out for bid for construction drawings, and it went over budget, they wouldn’t fund the project and absorb the cost. But if Minnesota were to move forward with the project, the city would be asked to reimburse the $142,000 to Minnesota.

Once the document was presented, City Council elected to differ bond proceeds to other projects besides Joe O’Brien Field. Talks regained momentum weeks later when Minnesota officials visited the Elizabethton facility to come together on a new plan with the city. The Elizabethton Star has not received any confirmation if the document presented is what both parties are operating on.

Mike Mains, director of Parks & Rec and E-Twins general manager, told the Elizabethton Star that the site plan is part of the ongoing discussions between Minnesota and the City of Elizabethton. The GM added Minnesota is hoping to receive feedback from the planners on the proposal.

Representatives between Minnesota and Elizabethton continued discussions last week, leading to the decision of bringing the site plan before the committee.

Mains added that no agreement has yet been made but talks are still continuing in keeping Minnesota within the confines of Joe O’Brien Field.

The recent development has been part of a multi-year discussion between both parties.

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Another concept being discussed at the meeting will be the expansion of A.Y. McDonald. Planners will go over the site plan, which would allow the company to receive the greenlight to work on expansion of the facility. A.Y. McDonald recently announced it would double its size at its Carter County building, adding approximately 99,000 square feet. The application for the site plan is made by Appalachia Design Services, Inc., and includes a 9.96-acre worth of work, which includes an additional 32 parking spots.