Wagner council approves temporary youth-sports use agreement, terminates athletic-fields director post after months of dispute

The Wagner City Council voted April 7 to allow the Wagoner Youth Football Association (WYFA) to operate the city's baseball and softball fields under a use agreement that runs through June 2, with the council requiring proof of liability insurance and a plan to secure 501(c)(3) status as conditions of continued operation.

The agreement followed lengthy public and council debate about scheduling conflicts, enforcement of rules on public park land, insurance coverage and the league's corporate status. Councilors also approved a separate resolution terminating the city position titled director of athletic fields.

Council members repeatedly said the dispute had roots in long-running tensions among rec leagues, travel/tournament teams and WYFA over priority use and field maintenance. WYFA leaders, coaches and the city's scheduling staff described breakdowns in enforcement and phone-based scheduling disputes that commissioners said had created a 'circus' for staff.

James, representing WYFA, said the league intended to make fields available to nonleague teams for practice,…