NEWS
Lee mulls fence restructuring for pair of baseball fields
Hot:42 Date:2019-02-28
Lee mulls fence restructuring for pair of baseball fields
TOWN OF LEE — A fence restructuring for two adjacent baseball fields of different sizes at the town park is being proposed by the Town of Lee Little League organization, which is seeking funding assistance from the town.
The town would pay half of the $22,397 estimated project cost if it opts to support the project, Lee Supervisor John Urtz said in reviewing the proposal at the Town Board meeting Monday night.
Among other topics, the board awarded a $225,800 contract to S.C. Spencer Electric, Inc. of Constableville for systems upgrades at the town water department pump station and water storage tank site; and awarded a $17,219 contract to the Ross Valve company of Troy to service water department pump control valves in conjunction with the other work.
• The baseball facilities proposal would affect a Little League field in the town park’s northeast area along with an adjacent larger Senior League field that shares some center-field fencing with it; the larger field at various times has been used by older ages, such as leagues similar to Pony/Colt leagues, as well as for American Legion baseball and for an adult team. The shared boundary for the fields includes a nine-foot-high fence.
The proposal is to “take down the nine-foot fence” and put up some regular fencing, explained Urtz. In addition, documents provided by the Little League organization indicate that the smaller field’s proposed new fence would be extended outward in center field, while a fence at the other field would be moved inward including center field.
“They want to change it so kids can transition from Little League to the next step,” Urtz remarked. He also observed the larger field is “not being used” regularly, adding “they really need to get some usage out of it.”
The proposal, whose cost estimates include removing and replacing fencing plus material costs and equipment rentals, will be considered further by the board. The town has frequently approved funding to assist the Little League organization’s projects at the park.
• The $225,800 contract for water department facilities involves new main controls at the pump station on Stokes-Lee Center Road and installation of a remote telemetry unit at the water storage tank site on nearby Podunk Road, town officials have said. The upgrades are needed because of the aging existing controls, officials have said.
Meanwhile, the related $17,219 contract will involve rebuilding all valves inside the pump station plus installing a new exterior valve to prevent possible back-flow, explained town water department Supervisor Joshua Szyper.
To supply its water system, Lee purchases water from the City of Rome, which has reservoirs on Stokes-Lee Center Road near the town pump station. Lee’s water system has about 1,300 customer accounts.