Council narrows sports‑league MOU liability language, asks staff to recheck fee calculations

Signal Mountain councilors on Monday reviewed redlined language for sports‑league memoranda of agreement and agreed to limit league indemnity to incidents that occur while league activities are taking place on town property.

Town attorney (identified during the meeting) recommended revising broad indemnity language so that leagues would “indemnify and hold harmless the town for claims ... arising out of or occurring on town property where participation by league members, participants, or spectators in or relating to league‑sanctioned activities occur.” The group agreed to the phrasing change to read “are occurring” to avoid imputing liability for unrelated events on town property.

Staff also presented a proposed fee schedule to recover a portion of maintenance costs from leagues: a suggested 32% cost share for this year, moving to 50% the next year and 75% thereafter. The proposed percentages are based on historical usage estimates derived from work orders and utility data. Council members raised fairness concerns — particularly that girls’ softball, which has lower participation, and year‑round pickleball users could be disproportionately affected. Council asked staff to circulate the underlying calculations and usage spreadsheets (requested by multiple councilors) so members can see how the allocations were derived.

Councilmembers and staff discussed operational points such as priority scheduling for rec leagues, how travel‑team rentals are charged to the town (not to the leagues) and whether field‑rental rates are up to date. Staff said they will provide the cost spreadsheets and clarify which costs (electricity, water, mowing, lining) were included in each league’s charge.

What happens next: Staff will provide underlying cost spreadsheets and a revised recommendation that addresses equity concerns for low‑participation leagues, and will propose language that can be standardized across MOUs going forward.