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Heated debate over Little League field rental and donated light poles; council presses for town-controlled agreement
Summary
Council and Northwest Volusia Little League representatives debated a proposed rental/donated-work agreement for Chipper Jones Park lights. Key disputes: donors want a 10-year term while council prefers a 5‑year term with renewal; maintenance responsibilities, insurance, liability language, and town authority to require off‑duty law enforcement were heavily negotiated. Council insisted the lease be a town document and asked the league to relay concerns to its donors.
Council members and Northwest Volusia Little League representatives engaged in extended discussion over a proposed field rental and donated‑work agreement for Chipper Jones Park and replacement light poles.
Kelsey, identified as president of Northwest Volusia Little League, said donors are willing to contribute approximately $80,000 in poles and fixtures and indicated the donors prefer a 10‑year term to recover costs. Kelsey said the donors "have plans to... not do the lights" if the donors' term demands are not met and explained that without donated lights Field 1 presents a safety problem for evening games. Kelsey asked the council to accept the donors' version of the contract so the project can proceed.
Council members and the town attorney pushed back on donor-drafted language that, in the council's view, shifted too much maintenance and termination risk to the town. The attorney noted earlier council direction for a five‑year term with a five‑year renewal option while the league's draft proposed a 10‑year term. The attorney recommended retaining language allowing the town to suspend or terminate the agreement for documented, repeated, and serious unlawful behavior, require site plans and permits for any improvements, and reserve the right to require off‑duty law enforcement when events become unruly.
Council members emphasized that the rental agreement is between the town and the league, not between the town and anonymous donors. One council member said the town will provide the contract on its terms and that the league "can take it or leave it." League representatives said they will return to donors and asked the council to consider compromise language; the attorney suggested a staged enforcement process (notice and cure, requirement to hire off‑duty officers, and termination only for repeated serious incidents) and indicated staff availability for drafting a final town-drafted agreement.
On operational items the parties agreed on several points: (1) the user will not be charged for spring/fall season use under the town form; (2) the town typically mows/outfields and drags infields while the league would line fields and perform cleanup; (3) donated lights and poles must be permitted, inspected and meet applicable codes before final acceptance; (4) volunteers performing donated work should sign a volunteer form; and (5) staff will provide the volunteer form and next steps. Council directed staff to return draft language consistent with prior council direction and to encourage the league to have donors meet with council members if they wish to discuss term guarantees.
