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Youth sports organizers ask council for expanded tournaments and a full‑time groundskeeper; council approves added position
Summary
Southeast Youth Sports representatives described growing league play and an estimated $30,000 economic impact from a single preseason tournament, asked to expand nights and host multi‑day events, and requested an additional full‑time groundskeeper; the council approved hiring one more full‑time groundskeeper to support expanded use of the softball complex.
Representatives of Southeast Youth Sports urged the McAlester City Council to support expanded league nights and multi‑day tournaments at the softball complex, saying tournaments attracted out‑of‑town teams and produced measurable local spending. "We're 700 plus people there for just one day. They estimated around $30,000 came to the community just for that one day," Lee Skinner, president of Southeast Youth Sports, told the council.
Skinner and other organizers asked to add a fourth weeknight of play and to hold several weekend tournaments. City staff warned that current staffing levels and field maintenance needs limit additional nights and events without hiring another full‑time groundskeeper. The Public Works Director explained that crews already perform routine mowing, field prep and cleanup and that adding nights without more staff could push employees to unsafe hours; the director recommended hiring a third full‑time groundskeeper.
Councilors voted to approve adding the full‑time groundskeeper position. Staff said funding would come from internal savings identified since the February 10 meeting and that the city would continue to use inmate labor for non‑public work where appropriate but not when children are present.
Next steps: staff will process the position authorization and work with promoters to refine scheduling and field rental agreements for tournaments and gate fees.
