Concerns heard, addressed over Sports Complex

Katrina England

Reporter

Hart Co. News Herald

The Munfordville City Council met in regular session on Monday, May 13. In attendance were Council members Tara Wilson, Jessica Nunn, Ricky Line, Martha Taylor, Jeremy Atwell, and Marcia Lenz, as well as Mayor Annie Swift.  

Munfordville Sports Complex

Susan Smith, Beth Cardwell, and Jackie Zaccardo addressed the Council regarding conditions at the Munfordville Sports Complex. The complaints mentioned included that lights were not on for practice when it began to get dark, players were not getting uniforms all-together or in a timely manner, bathrooms were not open during practices, fields were mowed the night before or morning of games, fields were not weedeated around the chain link fences, bleachers and handrails were broken, there was miscommunication among coaches and parents, and nets were not up for foul balls that were missing. They also stated some parents had offered to help, but had not been accepted.  

According to some of the Council members, repairs and upgrades were in the works prior to the City Council meeting. A weedeater has been purchased and weed eating commenced the weekend after the City Council meeting, weed management has started, they are looking into options for key codes for bathrooms, and new metal benches have been ordered for all 8 dugouts.

According to Atwell, four years ago a committee was created to oversee the Munfordville Sports Complex, which includes three City Council members. He explained the lighting issue and said it had been decided upon years before. He stated that through KU, if the lights are turned on before 7 p.m., it is considered peak time, and the city is charged the same rate until the lights are shut off again, which was costing the city thousands of extra dollars a month.  

“I promise you these items will be addressed,” said Atwell. “We will meet as a committee, and things will be fixed as soon as possible.”

When contacted after the meeting, Atwell reported he had followed up with Smith regarding the concerns and informed her they have either been addressed or will be addressed in the near future.  

Old Business

In previous months, the Munfordville City Council had discussed and moved to allow Green River Valley Water District to do leak detection to help figure out the $11,000 per month water loss the city is seeing.

Council member Jeremy Atwell asked about rates for when GRVWD finds and repairs leaks. Through the exploration, at least one leak was located and repaired at no cost.  At the time of the meeting, project completion was estimated to take another week.

“What I’m hearing is that we’ve already saved $2,400 every month from now on,” said Ricky Line, referring to the leaks that had already been repaired.

At the current time, the City of Munfordville (with the correct equipment) will have the means to repair leaks, but GRVWD’s Andrew Tucker also stated that eventually clamps would no longer suffice and replacements would have to be made.  

The Council also revisited their donation to the Chamber of Commerce, who had previously requested an increase from $2,500 per year to $10,000 per year for a period of 3 years. The Council decided to not work the increase in the budget until more information is available through the Chamber’s new director.  

It was also decided that limb clean up through the city would eventually cease, but is still currently being provided until Mayor Swift gets additional information on another option.

New Business

The Council also approved allowing Green River Valley Water District to perform the lead and copper testing, and unanimously passed the first reading of the new ordinance prohibiting horses (with the exception of Amish horse and buggies) in Thelma Stovall Park.