Fort district plans baseball/softball complex

FORT RECOVERY - School board members on Monday authorized the superintendent and treasurer to enter into an agreement with the Fort Recovery Athletic Boosters to build a roughly $1.3 million baseball and softball complex.

Board president Nick Wehr-kamp said board members authorized the superintendent to turn over land temporarily to the Athletic Boosters to build the complex, who will then return the land to the district when the complex is complete.

The current baseball field is located near the water treatment plant, which is distant from the school and does not have any restrooms, Wehrkamp said. The softball field is closer, near the elementary school but has no nearby restrooms.

The new baseball and softball diamonds will be located near the middle school and include a complex with restrooms, a concession stand and a pressbox on the second floor. The project would also feature bullpens, batting cages and stadium seating and lighting.

Game On Logistics of Pleasant Hill is expected to install the new fields and complex.

Jeff Wendel, Athletic Booster trustee, said the idea for the complex has been around for the past 15 years, but the ball really got rolling within the past few years.

"We had a vision but no money," Wendel said.

Wendel estimated the project will be completed this fall, and students will be able to play on the new fields by the following season.

The boosters have been able to raise a large portion of funding through the Win on the Wabash event, which has been held annually for the past three years.

Wendel said the Win on the Wabash committee is a branch of the Athletic Boosters, and the wildly successful raffle event has raked in hundreds of thousands of dollars for the complex.

The boosters also have had several generous sponsors, although Wendel said they're still looking for more.

In other business, school board members on Monday accepted the resignation of athletic and transportation director Brent Niekamp, effective July 31.

The board shared their appreciation for Niekamp's services in recent years and his willingness to complete this academic school year in that role. Niekamp plans to continue coaching and return to the classroom.

"Because Mr. Niekamp has multiple teaching area licenses, I am confident that we will have a teaching position within the district, next school year, without displacing any staff members or adding a staff position," superintendent Larry Brown wrote in a statement. "In March, the district will be seeking someone with skills like Brent for this position which will start in August."

Board members also,

• approved the voluntary reassignment of Tami Brunswick from intervention specialist to kindergarten teacher, effective Aug. 1.

• approved the change in work assignment for Kim Minnich from first-grade teacher to kindergarten teacher, effective Aug. 1.

• approved the voluntary reassignment of Chelsea Kahlig from high school intervention specialist to elementary intervention specialist, effective Aug. 1.

• approved and thanked the following for their donations: Fort Recovery Athletic Boosters, $2,000, baseball; Network for Good, $12, FFA; Fort Recovery Athletic Boosters, $800, track; and Kahlig Dozing and Excavating Inc., $100, Adopt-A-Family.

• met in executive session for about an hour to discuss employment. Wehrkamp said no action was taken afterward.