Parents and coaches urge quick fixes at Harrison Field; county outlines liability, budget and volunteer path

Parents, volunteer coaches and residents pressed Lake County commissioners on June 23 to restore and maintain Harrison Field for youth baseball; county staff described safety hazards and budget constraints and proposed a short‑term plan to reduce immediate risks while building a longer‑term sponsorship and capital prioritization strategy.

Public appeals and county position Coach Alex, who runs youth practices at Harrison Field, said the field’s playing surface and sightlines give local kids a better practice experience and asked the county to restore regular access for county‑run programs. “When we practice day in and day out, the ball moves fluidly,” Alex said, urging the county not to bar county programming over a short maintenance backlog.

Facilities assessment and liability Stuart, the county’s facilities maintenance manager, reported a site walk that found exposed sharp fencing edges, broken welds on backstops, evidence of drug paraphernalia in dugouts and missing bases in places. Stuart said some tasks—file down sharp points, remove obvious hazards—are manageable by county crews, but full rehabilitation (drainage, soils, liner work where needed, restroom/water access) requires funding and planning.

County manager Candace explained budget constraints: supplemental appropriations must be posted and approved; the county cannot redirect ongoing staff workload without considering operational impacts. She and counsel said the immediate safety approach should include updated liability waivers for county programs and an organized volunteer plan for low‑risk tasks under staff supervision.

Volunteers, waivers and sponsorships Commissioners and staff proposed an approach combining short‑term risk reduction and community support: 1) staff will return with a priced estimate of the minimum work to make the field safe for practices; 2) county counsel will draft updated program waivers so county‑sponsored activities can resume with clarified risk language; 3) staff will assess what duties could be done by supervised volunteers (raking, line painting, trash removal) versus tasks that require trained maintenance crews; and 4) staff will pursue sponsorship models (local business banners and targeted sponsorships) to help fund ongoing maintenance as part of a longer‑term capital asset plan.

Quotes “We’re trying to work together,” County Manager Candace said. “We can’t just write a check out of contingency for this without a process — we have to go through a supplemental or include it in next year’s budget.”

Coach Alex replied: “I’m not asking for games, I’m asking for practices. We just need time to get the kids the reps they need.”

Ending and next steps Staff committed to return quickly with an itemized estimate and a volunteer‑supervision plan. County counsel and staff said they would prepare updated waivers for county programs in short order and would consult with volunteers on safe, limited cleanup tasks while the board considers appropriation or budgeting options.