Member balks at ballpark upgrade

CELINA - Councilman June Scott during Monday's city council meeting said he would not support upgrading facilities at Montgomery Field if the city has to foot the long-term bill for upkeep and maintenance.

Grand Lake Mariners officials at a recent council meeting told councilors they are embarking on a campaign to raise funds to make facility upgrades at the field, most notably with viewing suites above a new visitors team dugout.

Mariners general manager and Celina High School baseball coach John Dorner had said the organization is raising funds to pursue a three-phase project centered on razing and rebuilding the visitors team dugout along the third base line with a two-level structure.

Scott, who said he does not plan to seek reelection, noted the city sets aside more than $10,000 each year for field maintenance and repairs.

"That field has cost us a lot of money through the years," he said. "I'm not going to be around much longer, but I just want to say the addition of this - and I know that the money is being collected by donations and those kinds of things - but there's still upkeep that the city will be up for."

The Celina High School baseball team and Wright State University-Lake Campus Lakers share the field at Eastview Park in the spring, and the Grand Lake Mariners and Celina ACME team call it home in the summer. The field is heavily used in the spring and summer, officials have said.

In making the pitch to councilors, Dorner had said officials believe the improvements would bring in tournaments to the city, which would bring more people into the community and increase commerce as a result.

"But we were told before that there would be all these tournaments that would come here, and I'm not so sure that came to fruition," Scott said. "I don't know if we had that many tournaments here to justify that kind of idea.

"I think it's a great idea. I mean, it's a great idea for Celina," he continued. "But keep in mind, gentlemen, it's going to cost the city money down the road… If there were to be a vote on this, I would vote no."

Council member Mark Fleck said the new facilities wouldn't necessarily lead to increased upkeep and maintenance costs. Councilman Eric Clausen added that up to 75 games are played at the field each year.

"It's (great) that these people are willing to do this, there's no doubt about it. I'm extremely grateful for it," Scott replied. "But the city has a responsibility to follow up."