Assistant Editor Jerry Lindsey wrote this report.
The Morrison Sports Complex has been a small town’s pride and a passer-by focus, for over 13 years. But age and uncertainty of management has created a community issue that was the purpose of the Special Morrison City Council Meeting on Thursday, June 2, 2022. All available chairs were occupied. Mayor Scott Vandermyde opened the meeting with an invitation to any and all Public Comments.
All presentations were full of enthusiastic support for the facility and suggestions on how it should be offered and managed. All comments carried a tone of impatience, disgust with poor efforts to date, and anxious anticipation to see action from the City.
Mayor Vandermyde opened the Council discussion by limiting the time to one hour, in an attempt to maintain interest and to keep the quality of discussion at a respectable level and usable quality.
Councilman Greg Kruse recommended making the drainage of the Baseball field the main priority. He questioned how much the City should spend on a facility that only is used a small number of times each year.
Councilman Harvey Zuidema strongly felt a usage commitment was needed from the Morrison School District, before any funding was directed to improve the drainage.
Councilwoman Sidonna Mahaffey echoed the drainage problem was the main focus. She added the hiring of a full-time Activities Director ran a close second place, in the ability to improve the functionality of the Complex.
Councilman Vernon Tervelt challenged the suggestion of capping spending on the Baseball drainage repairs and noted extensive examples of what was not happening at the Complex. He supported an “Action Now” attitude.
Continuing remarks encircled the suggestions of a full-time Director, using the Complex for year-round activities (including non-sports); consideration of forming a Park and Recreation District; collaborating closer with the School District.
In closing, Mayor Vandermyde summarized the evening’s remarks and summarized the Councils’ inputs into three areas. One, improve the usability of the larger Baseball diamond. Two, researching possibilities of a full-time Activities Director. Three, establish a defined collaboration with Morrison Community Unit School District #6, on future long-term usage of the Complex.
Results of research and progress toward establishing action items effecting the Sports Complex will be presented at the Monday, June 13, 2022, Morrison City Council meeting