Dunbar Little League to stay put thanks to ball field lease
DUNBAR – The Dunbar Little League will remain in the community following a property lease agreement with the borough for the ball field for 29 years and 364 days. Borough council together with John Frick, Little League vice president, signed off on the document after several amendments were made from the initial proposal last month at the advice of council solicitor Doug Sepic.
Laureen Malachin cast the dissenting vote with John Maddas, Harold Hair, Ron Gross and Patrick Fitzgerald in favor, while members Jim Martin and Bill Watson were absent from the meeting.
Frick provided council in May with a 99-year property lease he drafted outlining the league’s intent to lease the ball field from the borough so it could apply for grant money to purchase equipment.
Frick noted the league has continued to invest about $1,700 per load of dirt to fix the infield every time it is ruined by ruts created by youths riding their bikes on the field despite having any type of ownership.
With more area teams competing in the all-star tournament, Frick said the Little League has been prohibited from serving as a host team because the field doesn’t meet the lighting criteria of the national Little League for playing after dark, forcing members to use other ball fields.
According to Robin Beal, secretary, the right of first refusal on the agreement was changed from 99 years while the Little League agreed to pay for half the cost for paper products to maintain the comfort station during the baseball season.
Beal added the items include toilet paper, soap, paper towels and other products needed for upkeep.
Additionally, Beal said the Little League agreed to operate its own electric box and wiring and would pay the electric bill.
In an unrelated matter, council addressed a problem with cars driving on the Sheepskin Trail, which is not marked with any signs depicting it from a road.
Beal said that Glenn Wolfe, engineer with Widmer Engineering, would look into erecting a post or a gate to block access for motorists as well as the cost for a sign.
Turning to other business, council attempted to tackle the issue of dogs running loose in the borough without a license and contacted the state Game Commission about bats on Church and Railroad streets.
Mayor John Williams, Gross and Sepic plan to discuss amending the borough’s dog ordinance.
Gross said cats were also causing concern with council agreeing to purchase several live traps from the Fayette Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals that residents can use on an as-needed basis.
As far as pets, council reminded residents to clean up after their animals while walking them and that the park would remain closed until the comfort station is completed.
Council also reminded residents of the importance to properly dispose of waste and hazardous materials by not flushing oil, kitty litter and other materials down drains with brochures on the correct disposal of chemicals available at the office in the borough building.