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Council approves amended Health & Recreation report amid debate over tennis pro contract, insurance and pickleball funding
Summary
Council approved an amended Health & Recreation Committee report that endorses Racquet Club spending requests (with windscreens funding moved to 2026) and recommends extending the tennis pro contract pending solicitor review. Members debated a 2‑ vs 3‑year term and required liability insurance; the council approved the amended report after a roll-call vote.
Council considered a lengthy Health & Recreation Committee report on Oct. 6 that included recommended spending requests from the Mariemont Racquet Club, rate adjustments and a proposal to extend the tennis pro contract.
Randy York summarized the committee’s recommendations: accept the Racquet Club’s 2025 spending request with funding allocated from the appropriate fund (either the dedicated pickleball fund or the general fund), change the junior resident 2026 Racquet Club rate (from $52 to $50 as reflected in the packet), and extend the tennis pro contract for a multi-year term "pending review and approval by solicitor," with committee endorsement to prepare a related resolution.
Discussion at council focused on the contract term and liability protections. Multiple councilors urged a two-year contract as more appropriate for a municipal commitment; the solicitor (Ed) said he would review the agreement and add provisions allowing either party to terminate the agreement with written notice and would require annual proof of liability insurance in the contract. One councilor noted the village previously obtained the tennis pro’s certificate of insurance during prior reviews.
Councilors also reviewed which Racquet Club expenses should be paid from the pickleball account versus village funds (benches, portable nets and pickleball-specific gear). A proposed amendment deleted the explicit "2025" funding-year language in the committee report and moved windscreens funding to 2026 to align with installation timing. That amendment passed with one recorded "No" vote from Doctor Lewis. Following the amendment, council approved the amended committee report by roll-call vote.
Council members emphasized that approving the committee report does not constitute final approval of a contract; solicitor review and a future resolution or appointment (including a resolution to appoint Mister Russell as tennis pro) will follow at a later meeting. The solicitor said he would add provisions he deems necessary and present any changes to the mayor and council before the contract is finalized.
