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Burton approves ballpark license with Friends & Neighbors; city says past water was donated
Summary
Council approved a license and use agreement with Burton Friends & Neighbors and publicly clarified that water used at the ballpark in past years had been donated by the city (not billed), addressing a circulating rumor about a $23,000+ repayment demand.
The City of Burton approved a City Ball Park License and Use Agreement with Burton Friends & Neighbors on March 11, 2025, formalizing the nonprofit’s maintenance and use of the municipal ballpark. The motion to approve was made by Councilmember Nathan Kalkhake and seconded by Councilmember Jeff Eckhardt; the minutes record the motion passed.
During the discussion, Darrell Kieke asked the council to clarify a rumor that the city planned to require the group to repay more than $23,000 for water used in prior years. Mayor Karen Buck and the City Secretary said the water had been donated by the City to the ballpark “since 2005 when Steve Miller was the mayor,” and that repayment of donated water had not been discussed within City Hall in relation to the new agreement.
The attached Agreement in the packet sets a five-year initial term with automatic renewals (up to a 99-year total), requires the licensee to fund field maintenance and improvements, authorizes the licensee to drill an agricultural well for non-potable uses, instructs the licensee to pay for city water used going forward, and states the City will pay wastewater charges for the property for the duration of the agreement. The licensee must carry Commercial General Liability insurance with a $1,000,000 per-occurrence minimum and name the City as an additional insured.
