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Antrim Township approves $10,000 match for GABSA astroturf after divided vote
Summary
The Antrim Township Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 to award up to $10,000 in matching funds to the Greencastle Antrim Baseball Softball Association for Phase 2 astroturf installation, after an earlier motion to provide up to $30,000 failed. Opponents cited health and safety concerns about artificial turf.
The Antrim Township Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 on March 24 to grant the Greencastle Antrim Baseball Softball Association (GABSA) up to $10,000 in matching funds for Phase 2 of the group's capital campaign, which the association says will convert its fields to astroturf.
Bill Sperry, speaking for GABSA, restated the group's Comprehensive Plan and Mission Statement and told the board the group's priority sequence remains conversion to astroturf (Phase 2) followed by lighting upgrades (Phase 3). "It has always been clear that this was the order in which they planned to complete the phases," Sperry said.
An earlier motion to provide up to $30,000 in matching funds failed on a 2-3 vote. The subsequent motion, adopted by Resolution #396, approved a reduced match of up to $10,000 to be paid from the township's Community Fund. Supervisors Cochran and Murray voted against the $10,000 match; the three supervisors voting in favor were recorded as supporting the resolution.
Opposition at the meeting included resident Robert Smith, who said there is "medical talk of the astroturf releasing cancer causing chemicals" and related an anecdote about an injury he says occurred on synthetic turf. Supervisor Jaysen Cochran said he is "a big fan of sport organizations for kids, but just not a fan of astroturf." Vice Chairman Chad Murray said his decision was "nothing personal against their organization, but simply that he is not in favor of astroturf."
The board's action leaves GABSA with a conditional, partial township contribution and does not obligate the township beyond the $10,000 match. GABSA representatives announced an open house scheduled for April 4 to discuss the project and capital campaign.
The board handled the funding vote as part of its regular meeting; no additional conditions were recorded in the minutes. The meeting record does not specify a timetable for disbursement of the township funds or any required reporting from GABSA.
