BARRHEAD - Baseball and softball will be in Neerlandia, but it will not be this summer.
County of Barrhead manager Debbie Oyarzun told councillors this during their May 21 meeting when she updated them about the status of a potential agreement between the municipality and the Neerlandia Sports Committee.
She said administration staff had prepared a contract for the sports committee that would allow them to construct and operate a 300-by-300-foot community baseball/softball diamond on municipal property adjacent to the upgraded Neerlandia wastewater lagoon.
Last May, the Neerlandia County Softball, via a letter, asked councillors if they could transform the property, with the municipality's help, into a softball/baseball diamond, noting there was pent-up demand and not enough fields available in the area to play the sports.
The group stated that previously, area softball and baseball teams would use the Neerlandia Public Christian School (NPCS) grounds, but after the construction of the new school, which decreased the size of the two diamonds so much that they were suitable only for the youngest ages.
Council delayed its decision until municipal staff could research whether the province would allow such a facility to be located next to a wastewater treatment facility.
In September, council approved the request, pending an agreement with the Neerladia Sports Committee, which would oversee the diamond on behalf of Neerlandia Community Softball.
"They are still interested in pursuing it, but they need more time," Oyarzun said, adding the sports committee has suggested that they could be ready to proceed sometime in 2025.
Coun. Paul Properzi asked about the status of the County Ball program.
"They are doing really well," Oyarzun said, adding while the municipality helps administer the program, it is self-sufficient and run by a group of volunteers. "They were worried that they would not have enough volunteers, but it turns out they have a lot of new directors and people involved. It has been totally re-invigorated and refreshed."
Deputy reeve Marvin Schatz said he doesn't recall discussing the program during council's budget deliberations.
"Does this cost the county anything, and is it something we need to budget for?" he asked.
Oyarzun said there isn't a budget per se.
"We do get reimbursed for most of what we do, but for the most part, it is an in-and-out," she said. "We do some of the mowing and grading at some of the community halls and do some administrative things for them, but again, it really is just a flow-through for us."
Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com
