Ball association asks city to fund $150,000 concession and bathroom rebuild from estate funds

Representatives of the Washington Ball Association told the City Council on Sept. 3 they want to replace the existing 12-foot-wide concession/building at the ballfield with a larger 16-foot structure that would include restrooms, a concession stand with serving windows, storage and removal of the crow’s nest.

Travis Lehman and Adam Hatesohl gave a preliminary cost estimate of about $150,000 for a stick-built structure on a concrete pad and asked the council to consider using money from the Larry Davison Estate to fund improvements. Hatesohl described the current space as cramped and noted electrical issues and limited refrigeration: "the concession stand works but is very tight corners, has electrical issues, in need of refrigerators, the a/c works but there are more efficient options." Lehman said donated labor could reduce costs and asked the city to demo the current building if the project proceeds.

Council Member Amy Anderson asked whether the city pays insurance on the building and Council Member Terry Morse inquired about utilities; City Administrator Carl Chalfant confirmed the city pays insurance and utilities for the city-owned facility. Lehman said Rotary has committed $12,000 from its Festival of Trees for bleachers and crow’s nest removal but had not yet been approached about the building project. Mayor Garett Edgar said the council would consider the proposal but cautioned about timing: "they need a realistic timeline and personally doesn’t know that next year is feasible." The council did not commit funds at the meeting and said it would follow up with the association.

The minutes show the council discussed fundraisers and coordination with other local projects to avoid overlap before making a funding decision.