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Trust board awards $30,000 to Stoke Project for McCarthy Park courts; board asks for in‑kind breakdown
Summary
The Broadwater County Trust Board approved a $30,000 grant to the Stoke Project (through local CDC) to repair and extend the life of McCarthy Park tennis, basketball and pickleball courts, and requested a final report listing in‑kind volunteer hours and reimbursements for prior crack‑filling.
The Broadwater County Trust Board voted to grant $30,000 to the Stoke Project to support repairs and surface work on the tennis, basketball and pickleball courts at McCarthy Park.
Liz Wishman, speaking for Big Sky Big Leadership, presented the project and said the group had identified crack‑filling, surface repairs and repainting as priorities to extend the life of the courts. Wishman said quotes for professional repainting were high — she cited a $20,000 per‑court figure quoted earlier, which would amount to roughly $80,000 for multiple courts — and said volunteers planned to perform much of the painting if the trust provided cash for materials and contract items the volunteers could not do. She said the group had filled cracks and that BCDC had advanced funds for that work; Wishman requested that BCDC be reimbursed from the trust funds.
Public Works Director Eric Krush clarified the courts are city property and access is controlled by a code system managed through the sheriff’s office. Krush said members of the public can obtain access through the sheriff’s office non‑emergency process, which the presenters said helps reduce vandalism and protect the playing surface.
Board members and applicants discussed budget lines, fundraising and how to account for volunteer labor as in‑kind match. Wishman noted the paint cost was closer to $6,000 than earlier estimates; volunteer labor was proposed as an in‑kind contribution with an estimated market value based on a contractor quote. John Hahn, treasurer for Stoke, asked whether leftover funds would be returned or could be used for a maintenance fund; the board said invoices would be paid and unspent grant funds would typically be returned unless otherwise directed.
Board members moved and approved a $30,000 grant to the Stoke Project (to be administered through the local community development corporation as appropriate) with the condition that the project’s final report include a breakdown of in‑kind volunteer contributions and any outside cash raised. The motion recording specified payment by invoice and asked for documentation of actual volunteer hours in the project wrap‑up.
The board also discussed asking for additional bids, acknowledging the large variance between volunteer‑value estimates and contractor quotes. Board members asked that Stoke provide a final budget and in‑kind accounting when the work is complete.
