Tonight, the Elizabethton City Council will vote on two key items that could have major impacts on the operation of the Twins.

First, the council will consider the approval of a lease agreement that will lease Joe O’Brien Field to Boyd Sports, a management company that will take over the operation of Elizabethton Twins baseball beginning this year during the 2019 Appalachian League season.

For the past 44 years, the operation of the E-Twins has been conducted by the Elizabethton Parks and Recreation Department.

The lease agreement, if approved, will have an initial term of one year to begin following the completion of renovations at Joe O’Brien Field. Those renovations, which include the construction of a new clubhouse, are projected to be “substantially” completed around May 15, 2019. The lease includes an automatic extension of four years which is subject to whether or not Boyd Sports achieves a profit during its initial year of operating the Twins.

The lease also has a condition that Boyd Sports understands the Elizabethton High School baseball team is to still have access to Joe O’Brien Field for use during home games and practices.

Also in the lease, Boyd Sports will be “responsible for all costs associated with the preparation, arrangements and set up of the facility (Joe O’Brien Field) which are directly and indirectly attributed to its games, practices and other events.”

The City of Elizabethton, per the lease, would be “responsible for all improvements, and maintenance of all permanent structures at the field.” That will include “the outfield wall, lighting, grandstands, team buildings, buildings within the gated perimeter of Joe O’Brien Field, including roof structures, heating, and air systems, plumbing, routine painting, scoreboard repairs, and standard electrical services.”

Since the Twins came to town, alcoholic beverages have not been served at Joe O’Brien Field. With the taking over of Boyd Sports, which also operates the Johnson City Cardinals and the Greeneville Reds, beer could be served at future Elizabethton Twins games.

The city council will also consider an amendment to the municipal code that would allow an “on-premise” beer permit to Boyd Sports.

The city council meeting is open to the public and is set for 6 p.m. tonight inside the Elizabethton City Hall located at 136 S. Sycamore Street in Elizabethton.