Oh I hope this passes! What a great thing for a GREAT city!

Well said, Michael J! I could not attend meeting due to disabilities, but so happy to keep up with the updates on the Patch! And, glad to see it was also covered on the news as well! I have been trying to do that 48 game math from May to September too. Or how many nights per week would they be playing? etc. Also, does this field convert back to football in the fall for our schools too? I haven't head anything about that either. I think Commissioners got surprise when meeting became standing room only too! Also, what are the plans for citizens with disabilities to be able to attend these games? I haven't seen or read any accommodations for this either.

I am very glad to hear that careful consideration is being taken. While a baseball field & revenue to the city have the potential to be great, there are so many things that have not been addressed.
A friend raised the point about whether the baseball field will contribute to the maitenance and upkeep of the roads in Clawson due to the increased traffic flow. Will they be paying for the additional sewer/water/facilities that will be added? They say they will move the soccer field to another location, but where? Clawson is small and all of our fields are utilized in the spring & fall (especially fall with Mavericks and youth soccer practicing).
They said they would work with our highschool regarding games, but what about our youth leagues? I've looked at the schedules for the Traverse City Beach Bums, etc. and they sometimes have home games at 7:00 p.m. Tues-Sunday. Right now, Monday-Friday 5:30-7:30 we have Mavericks and highschool football practicing on fields that surround the baseball field. Where will they go? Obviously they can't practice anywhere near the park with crowds, etc.
I have two children that attend Schalm Elementary school. We have cub scouts & girl scouts at the school. PTA meetings, conferences, etc. etc. How will this affect these activities? (Parking, etc.)
I am not for or against a baseball field, I just don't feel enough information has been presented.

I was at the meeting listening to all the people in the back of the meeting more worried about disrupting the meeting. Their mouths and language were disgusting. What a shame, and I guess you cant blame the baseball team for all your troubles. It sounds like the city really has problems within itself. too bad.

The issues regarding disability access were covered last night as part of the parking discussion and as part of the building requirements to be ADA compliant, just as any other new structure being built has to meet the same code, unless grandfathered in.

I was unable to attend in person; however the entire meeting was televised so I was glued to the set. I had questions regarding added police presence and that was "in negotiations" the cost would be paid from the lease revenue??? Our police department is small and is busy with taking care of current matters. Addition of added patrolmen becomes a long term cost, so this needs consideration before signing any lease. Also, I agree - too many questions were answered with "part of negotiations currently underway with the city" We need answers before trading our modest but peaceful park into a money maker for both the Summit League and Clawson. I love baseball, but I want to be able to take my grandchildren to the park whenever we wish to.

I hope all of the people opposed to the new field will pick up the tab to improve the existing fields. As for you M.J.-you are really a whining expert at distorting facts.I would only hope-you can sell your shack and move back to Ohio.

I believe there will be no more discussion regarding the ball park because I heard the the proposal has been withdrawn.

That is correct. However, if you would like to continue the lively debate you can go here: http://clawson.patch.com/articles/baseball-team-owner-withdraws-clawson-ballpark-proposal?ncid=following_comment

Kurt: Merruci was asked to leave cause of threats, if charges were persued, some contract language would not had to be followed. I did not mean to sound like you perposed the deal. did not know how else to word it, w/key stroke limits. We did not have to put in exotic grass so sensitive, needs to be watered every day, (even during rainy weeks. then we have to bring in turf mang. to get rid of summer mold,and two other funguses, at that time they were watering at night, to the point it was still soggy the next afternoon, people working on the score board, had to wear galoshes.Yes golf courses water at night, by need, not by design, they to have to put on chemicals to stop all the neg. that happen at night. Been to a Tigers Game, b4 game the turf managercomes on SC Brd, saying like what u see, this field is never watered past 4:00 (?) or 5, she actually is on TV now pitching the same.. long story short, The city has changed it's timers to A M. Matter of fact, since 4th, bringing the pract area back, the sprinklers (push& trn) were on like all day in that one area, some one forgot(?),in early a m, later go to bank, lunch on, just to ck, afternoon, cars were having to turn their wipers on.wind aided, e'mwd,side bar..Yes the bare wires, on all those boxes in the open, the score board was upgraded by the group, but we are still sending a crew over to the athl. part to trimm ALL day,
On the coarse, it is design so all areas cut with Gang, or other lesser labor intensive mach's

I can not comment on the reasons for his termination other than to say that they were justified. However, I can say there were no legal matters to pursue, criminally or civilly, thus the terms of his contract remained in force.

Not going to dot the eyes, & know your part of council then, can not discuss, don't mean to out this, but just to show, I do know, I do not agree with the crimmally, as told to me by .................. b4 the agreement was reached., I to will and nevr have said a word about it. "The Cause" coming up on 8 tr's.or so

Mike and Kurt
It was said he could not turn a profit without alcohol sales. No BS respond

Just as most sports venues wouldn't turn a profit without concession sales. I never said otherwise.

Kurt don't switch it to Email answer it here. Ticket sales would not turn a profit without alcohol sales in the middle of Clawson park. Just say yes or no

Kurt
Didn't mean to insult you or anyone else and you are correct about the majority of the people act ok but it's the minority that get stupid right in the middle of a residential area that would become a nuisance real quick.

Parking Report is in! Were u at the park last night? A summer night in August, the "Park's Parking" was Taxed to the Limit. If you drove by or walked, this is what you would of seen.
Girls soccer. outf'ld of Schalm, Soccer f'ld,
Boy's Football JV game, heavey use of the pinic area.
Mavericks Pract. small fld area, Cheer teams practice,
Big fl'd, dogs running w/o leashes and leaving their calling card.
Volley ball, team It looked more like Pick up matches,
school lot Parking: 3/4 full
6 empty perimeter spaces,
BOTH cul-de sacs filled,
couple of cars parked up on the grass.,
Cars parked both sides of Custer for the first block, (So of Elmwood)
Elmwood, south side full, (claw Park - Cars ?) or residents ,?
Washington had about 12 or more cars parked on the east side, past the slight curve prk side..
Have pic's for the non believers. They were taken at 6:30 + or -, that is in August, well within the ball schedual, now take May part of June, people are out and about after long winter, last night people had sweat shirts etc. on, in may it would of been T shirts. school sports in full. best study is what it is, with no publicity.
with all the above there was very few spaces, on going, HS drivers be bopping, one parent is there the other one comes and one goes for dinner, start just a mind thought . why people parked in the street and not the prilim. I will say they did not stay empty for long 2 nite Claw vs Foley, better walk or take the DDA shuttle..smile

Millage in the wind, 3 mills, to replace the one that is retiring this or next yr. also might have to raise 9 mills like Hazel Prk. to make up for house depreciation. perhaps wrapped into same miilage request, of 9 total
Watch the Govr. he wants kids to go to any school. I bet G P, B'fld, B'ham will find a way not to allow it, Clawson will we build more schools? approx 30% of all our taxes for the district, go for school of choice kids, WHOSE PARENTS DON'T PAY OUR REAL ESTATE TAXES.......... DO YOU THINK THE DISTRICT GOT GREEDY BY OPENING THE GATES FOR THOSE OUT SIDERS, THEN THE NEW GOV. CUT THE AMOUNT pAID TO US, (&OTHERS) JUST FOOD FOR THOUGHT, Horizen is full is kimble full? don't know. Troy seems eager???

well MJ there might be truth in what you say. I bet it will be more than 3 mills, there are not enought taxpayers to pay for all this. will still wont get the park fixed

G G, (save key strokes,Sir), I not said one thing that was not in or should be in PublicMinutes,(minutes subjective to the minute taker), unless I have said [My terms], every thing has been said at a work shop,or sched. meeting.You are right any increase talked about so far, is to replace a retiring millage.I my self will never vote for an open ended millage to replace home depreciation, why? utopia, if houses appreciate, the city then would have apprec. monies &voted increase. The house depreci, as most people agree, put the prices of home back to 2001 or so era, WHERE they should be, before inst. manuv, problem is not only people got use to, Cities didn't catch on what was happening, spent accordingly. I had / have 5 kids, would had more If every time we had one, I could go in and gotten monies to cover the added cost,You know what the boss would of said, live with in your means, your pleasure, or family size is not his responcibility. I am telling you, in 2004 the last time the city was BROKE, we had approx.10 - 11 DPW employees, we now have 16 - 17, just c'nt the cars in the lot,over flow to across the strt.yet Claw didn't annex any more r estate, that 30+% increase in employees. yet staying the same size, go figure. If we night have a discussion w/o names calling.
But the fact is, if you have been here a while, you know your tax statement was with one line in the open area, now it is taking up just about the whole space, ther'e fees, fees are not Tax deductable, irs

MJ take the deduction based on the amount of check you write to the city, those fees are encompassed in the tax bill. take them

thnks g g I will remember that