Residents press council for clarity on baseball stadium site change, costs and rebidding

During citizens’ comments, residents focused attention on the town’s baseball stadium project and on a separate rezoning, arguing the council had moved the stadium site and that the town had not provided clear, written analysis of the cost change or legal basis for avoiding a new competitive bid. Rick Buckner told the council he had asked for written answers about the cost impact of the site change, the legal basis for not rebidding, and confirmation of the project parcel and urged the council not to proceed further until those three points were answered in writing.

Other residents, including Kyle McKill and several Greenway users, emphasized that the proposed stadium site contains mature hardwood forest that cannot be replaced in a lifetime and urged the council to consider moving the stadium back to the contract location on the west side of the Community Park. Petition numbers were raised (about 640 signatures, ~85 recorded in the town ZIP code by the organizer), and the council acknowledged the public concerns and said staff would follow up on the procurement and location questions outside of citizen comment time.