City Council Approves Shared Funding Plan for Clawson Baseball Field Renovations

Clawson is one step closer to having a new baseball infield at after City Council approved a plan to share the funding of renovation costs with the and a volunteer fundraising group at its meeting Tuesday evening.

Each party would agree to pay no more than $14,000, with the total costs not to exceed $42,000, according to a brief by City Manager Mark Pollock. Pollock explained that he believes the final cost of the project, which would be bid out to contractors, would come in significantly less than $42,000 and that the two proposals that have been presented were for $31,000 and $35,000.

He said the $5,000 difference between the two proposals is the result of the cost to replace the infield with grass versus just improving the existing sod surface. The baseball field at City Park is one of only two in Oakland County without a grass infield and there have been many complaints about its poor condition.

“If we are going to do this project, let’s do it right,” council member Thomas Palmer said in favor of a new grass surface. “Let’s get the good stuff so it doesn’t fall apart in a few years.”  

Pollock said the maximum expense was placed at $42,000 to cover any additional costs not laid out in the two proposals, including an irrigation system that would be needed on the field. 

“Every time we talk about doing a park renovation we talk about projects in the millions of dollars,” Palmer said. “That’s why I believe this is an excellent way to start tackling this project because it's manageable and reasonably priced.”

The next step will be for City Attorney John Kingsepp to detail how the costs will be split three ways, what the money will be used for and how any extra funds will be spent. That plan will be taken to the next n meeting for its approval to go forward.

“One of the main reasons we agreed to start park renovations with the baseball diamond was because we could cooperatively share the costs with the school district and the volunteer group,” Pollock said.

The volunteers’ portion of the cost might be initially funded by Friends of the Park Foundation, then be reimbursed once the group, organized by  varsity baseball Coach Ralph Haney, raises its  share of the money, the city manager said.

Council members also speculated what could be done with surplus funds if the renovation project came under budget, with ideas including adding new bleachers around the field and fixing the fencing.

“Let’s take it one step at a time,” cautioned Mayor Penny Luebs, who added  she was excited for the possibility of fixing more than the infield because that might attract more teams to play at the park and bring revenue to the city.

Kingsepp said he will include plans for any surplus funds in the document he drafts before the school district’s meeting next month.

If the school board approves its share of the costs, the city manager said the ideal time for doing the renovations would be in late August, after the baseball season ends. 

“It could be a really wonderful field,” Pollack said.