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Council lets American Legion keep gate revenue for 2026 season amid concerns about attendance
Summary
After American Legion Post 9 representatives said the city’s field-use policy limits admission charges and reduces fundraising, the Milbank City Council voted 4–2 to allow the Legion to retain gate revenue for the 2026 season while urging a broader plan to revive youth baseball.
Stu Schreurs, representing American Legion Post 9, told the Milbank City Council the current field-use policy "appears to prohibit admission charges for regular-season games and requires the city to receive 50 percent of gate fees from certain other games," a condition he said would hamper the Legion's ability to raise funds for youth baseball programs. Schreurs and several Legion members asked the council to change the policy to allow admission charges at regular-season games.
Council members discussed declining youth participation, the city’s investment in the ball field, and the need for stronger promotion and collaboration to improve attendance. After that discussion, the council approved a motion allowing the Legion program to retain gate revenue for the 2026 season without paying a percentage to the city; the motion passed 4–2. Mayor Pat Raffety encouraged continued work on a broader plan to support the future of local baseball.
The decision is limited to the 2026 season; the council did not adopt a permanent ordinance change at the meeting. The record does not identify the motion mover or seconder. No specific financial projections for lost or retained city revenue were presented at the meeting.
