07/29/2005: "SJI School District Explains Wait on Ball Fields"

ig_SJSD_PublicMeet_07-27-05 (37k image)
SJI School District Board Members L to R: Bob Mancuso, Emily Orr and Chair Boyd Pratt

By Boyd C. Pratt & Michael Soltman

After several weeks of listening to the opinions and concerns of all the stakeholders involved in desiring to provide athletic fields for community use, last night the San Juan Island School District Board of Directors determined that it would be irresponsible to proceed with the development until several questions are answered:

1. What are the actual development costs? Development costs cannot be fully known until the conditional use permit is processed and approved by the Town Council. Then, and only then, will the costs for adjacent road improvements, etc. be known. These costs along with true field development costs, based upon engineered specifications, must be documented.

2. What are the sources of funding to meet identified development costs? The Board must be able to review the funding sources to determine that, in fact, the project can be completed to the engineered specifications.

3. What are the sources of funding for the ongoing maintenance and operation of the athletic fields? The Board must be able to review the funding plan documenting sources of ongoing revenue necessary to operate the fields.

Over the past several weeks inconsistent historical memory, errant "factual" information, and opinion have fueled the debate regarding this project. Here are the facts as we know them:

1. The actual committed donation from the gravel pit is for 1,000 – 1,500 cubic yards of pit run at a value of approximately $12,000 - $18,000. No commitment was made for any additional material, including sand. However, Doug Higginson said, "there may be some material available at the end of the reclamation process." The rumor of a donation reported to be $200,000 - $300,000 is false.

2. The estimated need for material is 14,000 cubic yards according to engineering estimates. The committed donation from the gravel pit is only 7% of the actual material needed. Additional material expense must be included in the project development costs.

3. There is no urgency to move material to the field site. Doug Higginson has agreed to store any donated material at the gravel pit until we can use it. If the County becomes the owner before we need the material, Randy Gaylord has assured us the material will be continue to be stored for us.

4. The District filed the conditional use permit over three months ago pending the traffic study promised by Don Galt. The study will be complete in 2 weeks. The application will be advertised for 30 days. The Town Council will hold a hearing to determine if the permit will be approved, and what, if any, conditions will be placed upon the development.

5. The District has designated the project to be completed in two phases, three fields at a time, to ensure that they are properly developed, and that there is sufficient funding for maintenance and operations.

6. Island Rec's current commitment to maintenance and operations of the fields is to participate in the development of a community-based plan for funding. There is no current plan for funding maintenance and operations. Annual costs are estimated to be $50,000 – 70,000 (assuming irrigation water provided by wells).

The School District continues to be committed to making the 30 acres available to our community for athletic fields. However, before proceeding with approving groundbreaking we will insist upon approval of the conditional use permit, a comprehensive plan detailing all development costs, documentation of adequate funding for development, and identification of resources for the ongoing maintenance and operations. Would you expect any less oversight of a community asset and a major development project?