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Monticello City Council endorses scaled-back $13 million plan for Bertram Chain of Lakes athletic park
Summary
Parks and Recreation Director Tom Pawelk presented an updated feasibility study showing a $13 million estimated project cost (using 2028 construction-cost assumptions). Council and local athletic associations supported deferring a concession building and a playground to free about $1.5 million for expanded ballfield buildout.
The Monticello City Council on April 20 reviewed an updated feasibility study for the Bertram Chain of Lakes Athletic Park and voiced unanimous support for staff-recommended scope changes that defer certain amenities to prioritize ballfield buildout.
Parks and Recreation Director Tom Pawelk presented the study update, saying the project’s estimated total investment is $13 million based on 2028 construction-cost assumptions. Pawelk told the council the current estimate reflects a full site buildout but does not include lighting and additional amenities for the northern fields.
To better align priorities with available funding, staff recommended removing the planned concession building on the park’s southwest side near the pickleball courts and deferring the playground planned for the north end. Pawelk said those two omissions would reduce near-term project costs by about $1.5 million; staff proposed reinvesting that savings into completing the ballfields.
Under the revised approach described to the council, the project would convert all four northern fields to 260-foot configurations, install lighting on two of those 260-foot fields, add scoreboards and player bench canopies, and complete grading, fencing, natural grass turf and irrigation expansions. Pawelk also noted a potential bid alternate to add lighting to the remaining two fields if additional funding becomes available.
Representatives from local athletic associations — listed on the meeting record as Monti Club JO, Monti Center Court Club, Monti Lacross, Monti Baseball, Moose Youth Hockey and Great River Soccer — provided feedback. The associations expressed a preference for a grass infield on one 300-foot field within the pinwheel configuration and for eliminating warning tracks on the fields.
Both the athletic associations and the council expressed unanimous support for proceeding with the project as modified. The minutes do not record a formal roll-call vote; the record states the council reached consensus. By consensus, the special meeting was adjourned at 5:36 p.m.
Next procedural steps were not specified in the meeting minutes.
