Watertown approves three-year stadium use agreements with school district and baseball association

At its February meeting, the Watertown City Council voted to approve two three-year facility-use agreements allowing community groups to use Watertown Stadium.

Parks and Recreation Director Dusty Rodick told the council the first agreement is with the Watertown School District 14 4 for general stadium use and a parallel agreement is being finalized with the Watertown Baseball Association for primary summer use. "Primary use during the summer season will be the Watertown Baseball Association," Rodick said.

The council approved the school district agreement on a motion by Councilman Danforth, seconded by Councilman Bueller. Danforth described the arrangement as a temporary measure while the city and community plan a longer-term solution: "It's kind of a band aid, so to speak," he said, adding that the three-year term is intended to "get us through a period of time that the upper level baseball programs have a place to play ball." The motion passed on a roll-call vote with all recorded members voting aye.

On the second agreement, for the Watertown Baseball Association, the council voted to approve the contract after adopting an amendment clarifying how repair costs would be shared. Dusty Rodick said the association will help offset costs such as utilities and maintenance while using the stadium and noted the association is "actually gonna be hosting the, the state tournament this year."

Councilman Hollien moved the amendment to add clarity on cost-sharing for repairs; Councilman Danforth seconded the amendment. The adopted amendment (to Section 5 of the agreement) states that "both parties will agree to share a percentage of costs with amounts settled on a case-by-case basis related to repairs of the field lighting and scoreboard systems on a per incident basis." Council then approved the amended agreement on a subsequent motion (moved by Councilman Tupper, seconded by Councilman Bealer); the vote was unanimous among the recorded members.

Council members said the agreements are intended as interim arrangements while the community and city officials consider long-term options for baseball facilities. Danforth urged continued work on a permanent solution: "we've got to have something figured out" during the three-year term.

The agreements are separate contracts and were approved as such; staff will finalize the documents and implement the terms as written, including the cost-sharing approach for repairs in the baseball association agreement.