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TOPIC: Draft $$ Tourney |
| Ohney
January 16, 2008
9:38:19 PM
Entry #: 2551338
| We should organize a draft tourney in February! A warm up for leagues. Use any $$ we raise to improve our fields? Just throwin out ideas! Burd, what u think?
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| jeffro2
January 17, 2008
1:32:25 PM
Entry #: 2552181
| I thought we (as in marion softball)had money in an account. Is this not true ? How much money is in the account ? (if theres one) I would like to see the fields in better shape this year.I'm not complaining bout park dist. It's the feilds themselves. For anyone who didn't know . There was a BIG tourney scheduled last year at pyramid park that had to be cancelled due to the feilds HORRIBLE conditions!! & the fact of safety. If things don't get better , I feel players may go to different parks & play, for instance Carbondale. Other Opinions please......
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| Rsummers
January 17, 2008
3:05:41 PM
Entry #: 2552389
| Im in on the draft tourney....
But ohney you know its cold outside and theres not alot of teams or players that can tough that out..
As for the fields isnt there alot of rumors about redoing them... but i think they need done and would donate time to improve them.
And if other teams go else where they will be right back cause...
1. carbondale is ran crappy and they cancel games if someone spits on te field..
2. murphysboro????? need i say nore?
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| DReid
January 17, 2008
7:25:30 PM
Entry #: 2552816
| I tried a draft tourney last year. Got 11 people to sign up.
The fields are not ours to do anything with. It's the park district. We can not make any changes or improvements to the fields, period. They are union and we can not touch the fields except to put out bases.
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| burd
January 17, 2008
7:56:49 PM
Entry #: 2552864
| i appreciate you asking for my thoughts ohney. im up for anything but rob has a point. wouldnt get many people out in the cold. maybe we can do a round-robin tourney with the spring league teams on a saturday. but im in for whatever we decide.
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| jeffro2
January 17, 2008
11:40:14 PM
Entry #: 2553198
| I understand the whole union thing. But then who makes the decissions on spending the money to fix the feilds ? Someone has to make the call!! Park district guys can do all the "hands on" stuffff. Theres got to be a party or group or something that says "YES" we would like to have this done to the feilds at pyramid park.& How much will the park district charge for getting this done ???????????? Am I the only one not getting it ?
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| DReid
January 18, 2008
11:25:09 AM
Entry #: 2553709
| I think so. The fields are theirs. They are the city's fields and the park districts responsiblity. I got them to add the Turface last year. We will see how it helps this year once it gets turned in.
The major improvement that can be made now is a sprinkler system which I think they're pretty reluctant to do, but is going to be brought up again.
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| jeffro2
January 18, 2008
2:34:38 PM
Entry #: 2554010
| By you stating you think the feilds need sprinklers & you got them to add turface. Seems to me it's your choice(sprinklers would be nice) & your way & nobody else can make any suggestions... If theres money in account, why can't whoever spend some of that to make feilds any better. Not asking for Miners ball park. Just enough better so theres NO more tourn. cancellations due to the poor conditions of the feilds. Just asking???
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| DReid
January 18, 2008
11:55:27 PM
Entry #: 2554703
| What are you talking about? Where have I shot down anyone’s opinion or suggestion EVER on here? I don’t tell people that their opinions are stupid or anything like that. I give examples and answers based on what I’ve done and tried to have done. In the league meetings, I ask SEVERAL times during each meeting what people would like to see changed, improved, removed, etc… from the league.
“Seems to me it's your choice(sprinklers would be nice) & your way & nobody else can make any suggestions”. What is that??? Go to the beginning of this message board and see how many times I’ve put up posts asking for opinions, suggestions, etc… Or better yet, ask those who came to league meetings and see how often I asked for ideas and suggestions. I stated the facts. It is the City's property and park districts responsibility/call. We can not do anything to the fields. I’ve already said this, but I’ll say it again. I got them to add Turface to the fields (1 pallet on each field last year) and we’ll have to see if that helps. That’s not shooting down anyone’s ideas or suggestions, it’s stating a fact.
I took time out of my life last year and talked to both John Bell at Bridgeton, Mark Balven at Pevely and the guy who was involved in putting in the new field at Carterville (can’t remember his name). I got some detailed information from the first 2 about what their infields were made of and how they handled them and handed it over to Mark Evans and the Park Board. Mark contacted the guy from Carterville himself. It would be 10’s of thousands of dollars to redo the infields to anywhere near those specs.
I’ve been to no less than 6 park board meetings since I got involved with the league. My MAIN priority has always been improving the field conditions. I’ve had numerous phone conversations and personal meetings with Mark Evans about it. It’s simply not that big of a priority for them considering the time and money that would have to be spent.
But as I said, we added Turface last year and we’ll have to see how that goes. We (Lester and myself) plan on bringing up the idea of a sprinkler system (AGAIN) at the next park board meeting and see if we can make any headway. We’ve been down the road of them tearing up the fields once a week, but they don’t want to do it because it just creates more dust than actual dirt because of the high concentration of sand in the ground and the amount of extra time it takes because Adult Softball falls way behind youth sports in priority. Doing that with the fields staying dry would triple the problems.
As far as I know, there has never been a tournament cancelled due to safety issues or field conditions. I was going to try to have a tournament last summer, but decided against it due to time and desire. There were however tournaments in the fall.
To come on here, a public forum, and make a statement about me like that is unfair, very irresponsible and totally inaccurate. If needed, I can post numerous links to where I’ve asked for opinions and suggestions about the league. I can even find posts where I’ve asked for opinions and suggestions about the fields. I’ve said before that I welcome constructive criticism about the league or the way it was ran. I only ask that it be well thought out and not attacking.
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| Kbeal
January 19, 2008
8:58:42 AM
Entry #: 2554877
| Dan I agree with you that you have asked several times about how the fields can be improved. If the work has to be done by the city employees and the fields are not a high priority to the city then what are our alternatives? I also understand that just because the league has all that money in the league account does not mean that we need to go on a spending spree either. If the league did decide to make improvements to the field regardless of what those improvements are the league is probably going to have to agree to pay the city employees for the labor part and for what ever materials are needed. I know you know more about this than anyone since you have given your own time to run to league, but what is it going to take to get the improvements done. As soon as we know that part of it i guess the league can decide then wether it is worth the cost of making those improvements. I think that since the league is not a priority to the city then more than likely the league is probably going to have to foot the entire bill on the improvements. I really dont think that it is right to have to pay the entire bill to improve a park that is not ours, but that might be our only option if the city wont budge on making improvements. I also understand that city park employees are union and that brings alot more red tape to the equation.
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| DReid
January 19, 2008
9:43:27 AM
Entry #: 2554914
| To properly "fix" the infields would take 10's of thousands of dollars. There are different estimates, but it's not like $2,500.
Don't hold me 100% to this, but for instance, I think that Bridgeton's fields are 33% sand, 33% silt and 33% Rounded Red Rock clay. Or something like that. We would need to get rid of about the top 6" or our infield and then have all of this stuff brought in. I don't know the exact composition, but my guess would be that our infields now are like 60-70% sand, at least.
The thing is that when the fields are wet and turned, they are great. The fields are at their best when one night gets rained out and they're just good enough to play the next night. They're a bit soft then, but you get the best bounces.
Lester and I have talked a couple of times about this and are really going to push the sprinkler system at the next board meeting we go to.
The park spent a pretty good amount of money on the Turface that they put down. (I don't know for sure, but I think a pallet of Turface is probably in the $800 range, give or take a bit and we got 2 of them). It definately helped out and once that gets turned in well with the field, it should help more.
If we can get a sprinkler system, the thing that I'd like to see happen is something like this:
WEdnesday, the sprinklers kick on and water down the field. They're set on a timer so the park knows when it'll happen. A half hour or so after they kick on, they get to the field and tear it up and then drag it. Then about 5:30 or so, they kick on for a bit to settle the dust (this would happen every day). I'm hoping that it happens, but it's hope.
We have about $4,000 or so in our account. We don't know yet if we'll have to kick in anything for the scoreboards or not. Hopefully we'll have that answer soon. Right now, the park board is wanting $1,000 per scoreboard for labor and materials to install from us. I don't know what the materials on a sprinkler system would cost. I had one put in at the house last year so that gave me some idea of what's needed. I think it'd be between $1200 and 2000, but that's just a guess.
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| jeffro2
January 20, 2008
1:43:19 AM
Entry #: 2555797
| Dan, & whomever else is reading this, I'm sorry if you think I was attacking you. But just like my post said "just asking"?? Trying to get some info. I think that's great for marion softball that you want to or are able to put time in for any & all the leagues. Just like KB states " I don't feel we should have to pay for entire fixes of a city park" (or something close to that.) I agree. Nor was I stating, spend all of money in the account! We all know "youth Sports" comes first. & nobody is debating that. Anyone that knows marion softball knows that you've been involved w/ trying to get things done. I've always heard the only "stupid questions" are the ones not asked. So of course questions are directed at you because your the most knowledgable person on this stuff.
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| ohney
January 20, 2008
10:40:33 AM
Entry #: 2555998
| I understand the union thing and all but Mr. Rinnella said that if we got supplies for the fields that the union would take care of the labor. I think that us getting a sprinkler system is a little silly. I think we should push the fact that our infields are the worse in the state. $1000 a field would be a great start to resurface.
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| Ohney
January 20, 2008
1:05:11 PM
Entry #: 2556159
| What are some of the other players opinions? To me, the infields are way more important than the scoreboards. The 10 years I have been playing softball in Marion, last year was the first time i remember the city adding anything to our infields! That did help but not near enough. 1 dumptruck full of crushed limestone per field would help us level it. Maybe new anchors for the bases. We need new pitching rubbers, rakes, fences in the dugouts need to be fixed. There is alot of little things that can be done to improve our complex. I personally think that sprinklers solve none of these problems. I'm afraid that someone will get hurt or killed because of the condition of our infields! Just my $.02
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| jason
January 20, 2008
2:35:25 PM
Entry #: 2556241
| i dont think dan had problem with suggestions, just didnt like someone saying he did. In meetings hes always asked for suggestuons and opinions. Much better than what it used to be. I know he's asked many times for suggestions on how to improve fields.
sprinklers sound like a good idea. The fields are their best after a rain.
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| ohney
January 20, 2008
6:25:17 PM
Entry #: 2556423
| Our fields at their best are still not good. Sprinklers will definately help. I just hope it don't end with sprinklers. Can you even turn on the irrigation system over the summer? I thought we have a drought every year and we cant even use our garden hoses. This post was started to get us talking about it. Us having hydrants right next to the infield I thought would help us focus on safety issues
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| ohney
January 20, 2008
6:25:52 PM
Entry #: 2556425
| Our fields at their best are still not good. Sprinklers will definately help. I just hope it don't end with sprinklers. Can you even turn on the irrigation system over the summer? I thought we have a drought every year and we cant even use our garden hoses. This post was started to get us talking about it. Us having hydrants right next to the infield I thought would help us focus on safety issues
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| DReid
January 20, 2008
10:43:06 PM
Entry #: 2556718
| O, isn't crushed limestone the stuff they use on warning tracks? I know it's different than crushed brick/the stuff up at Fosse, but if you slide or dive on it, won't it tear up your pants/skin? I don't know, just asking.
We had rakes and 1 pitchers mound taken from the fields this year. Hard to keep new stuff up there.
I don't know anything about limestone but what I read here:
INFIELD
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| L Bowles
January 21, 2008
8:34:12 AM
Entry #: 2556968
| We have always been looked at as 2nd class citzen out there it has been that way for along time. Dan has been able to get more done through the park than anyone has in the past, but it is not enough more of us need to get behind Dan to get the park to do more of the things we need done out there. I think we need to go to Park board meeting in the masses and tell them what we need i am not saying that will change anything but atleast it will be a start and it wont just be 1 person telling them.....Just my 2 cents worth
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| Rusty
January 21, 2008
10:21:57 AM
Entry #: 2557147
| Are we going to run into a problem with the water bill and the electric bill, if we get scoreboards and sprinklers systems. Or is it not gonna run it up enough to make much of a difference. I like the thought of both ideas. Maybe we do one or both of them, and after that save are money up for a few years and try to do the big expenses later. Plus that would give us time to ware down the park board a little. I'm not for sure but was'nt the scoreboards going to be free. I thought they were the old ones at Ray Fosse. $2000 to put them up, thats a pretty high for labor. They might be wanting us to buy them from them. If so we should check into to Pepsi, Budlight, or someone like that, to see if they would help us out if their getting their name on it for advertising. Just a couple of idea's to throw out their for discussion.
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| L Bowles
January 21, 2008
10:41:10 AM
Entry #: 2557198
| Rusty please refer to my post we are treated like 2nd class citizens to be honest about it we are all tax payers and i see NO reason why we should have to pay for scoreboards or the labor to have them put up that is a CITY PARK and they should treat it like one !!!! This is just food for thought we have to pay for the lights and for them to line and drag the feilds but it is a city park is that not part of there jobs ???? Also do you play tennis, who pays for the lights at the russell street park.....humm tax payers...Again dont mean to get on a rant here but come on people we need to go to the Park Board in numbers let our voice be heard !!!!!!!
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| DReid
January 21, 2008
11:56:20 AM
Entry #: 2557303
| We don't pay a water bill, just electric. I'm not sure on this, but I don't think scoreboards will increase the electric bill all that much.
Agree with Lester on the scoreboards. Hopefully we can get the Park Board to see it that way too.
Here's how I could see it from the Park Board's perspective. They just put down 2 pallets of Turface on October 9th. There ended up being 3 weeks played after that I think, plus one tournament. They will want to wait to see how it works. Their point will be, "We just put XXX amount of money into the fields, lets see if that improves them or not and go from there.".
Which I understand their point. My thing is that no matter what we put down, if it's always dry it's just going to continue to be a dust bowl. For those who play in Carbondale, that field is like playing on concrete. They don't tear it up, just drag it. Even after it rains, they don't tear it up.
If you just tear the fields up without watering them, then you just get a sandbox.
I don't know much about crushed limestone like Ohney talked about and can't find any information on it. So I don't know if that'd be a fix or not.
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| Ohney
January 21, 2008
1:14:56 PM
Entry #: 2557479
| We used crushed lime @ the Dubuque Sports Complex for years. When it gets real dry like it does here, it will leave road rash on your leg when you slide in shorts. Crushed lime is the only thing we would use on the field, so I don't know anything about our other options. I know it is affordable (about $600 a truck) and it stays in place after rain. I'm all for going to the park board meeting to help support Dan on whatever is decided. Great dicussion though!!
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| jeffro2
January 21, 2008
1:49:26 PM
Entry #: 2557546
| when is the next park board meeting ? I think ALL Teams , Co-ed , Church,Summer A,B,C & fall players should attend !! If we could get half the players from each team to SHOW UP. That would be great! If each coach would take 15 minutes & call all everyone on their team & let them know , (obviusly the more that show up the better ).. Lester brings up an outstanding fact about the lights at the public tennis courts.
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| L Bowles
January 21, 2008
5:23:57 PM
Entry #: 2558008
| Again i agree with O and with Jeffro we need more than the 3 4 or 5 people that are on here posting to show up if nothing else just show up for support again numbers may speak volumes here but i also agree with Dan they did put say 1000 to 1200 into the feilds but it never hurts to try i think we all have questions that they need and could awnsered
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| DReid
January 22, 2008
10:59:01 AM
Entry #: 2559120
| Here's my quick opinion. I think we're gettin ahead of ourselves. The park board has been great since I've been involved. This has a feeling that we need numbers cause we're fed up with them or something. That's totally not the case. they have done a TON of things for us.
Aksing about the lights like Lester said is a good idea. However, I'm pretty sure that the Youth Baseball& Softball pay for their own lights. I know they buy their own lyme and paint. But won't hurt to ask.
The place they have their meetings is probably a 15 x 30 room with desks, chairs and what in it. You can't fit a lot of people in there.
My take is that Lester and I plan on going to the February one. Let us see what they're open to since they just put down the Turface. They're a really good group to work with and I haven't had any problems dealin with them yet.
Just my take.
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January 23, 2008
10:03:07 PM
Entry #: 2562390
| This is why i brought up the idea of holding a tourney or something. Maybe a saturday afternoon league to help us get $$ to improve OUR fields. Whether the city owns them or not, we should improve them for our safety. I agree that the park board does more now than ever before. If we raise our own $$ its not an issue!
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| Ohney
January 23, 2008
10:03:39 PM
Entry #: 2562393
| The last post was me
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| DReid
January 24, 2008
11:34:27 PM
Entry #: 2564503
| Sure, the only thing I said about that though was last time I tried, I got 11 guys. You can probably get more people if all money goes towards improving fields hopefully.
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