Those worrying about losing two youth league baseball fields due to the construction of Johnson Elementary School got some good news from Bridgeport City Council this evening. Thanks to a six-figure budget revision, there should be two new youth fields at the Bridgeport Recreation Complex by the spring of 2017.

 

Recently, city officials revealed current work being done to create a new multi-use field at the Rec Complex. As part of the work, the idea was to use part of the land to create t-ball, or even c-ball, level fields on that site. If that plan was going to go into place, it would have likely not been ready until the late summer or early fall months of 2017, according to Bridgeport Assistant City Manager Jimmy Smith.

 

With the need for youth fields already acute for years, the JES project made the situation worse. Now, it appears some temporary relief is on the way. The project in question will now be expedited and will definitely include two baseball fields along with a soccer field. The outfields of the youth fields will be part of the soccer field.

 

Council unanimously approved a capital reserve fund budget revision for $121,263 to install sod on the entire surface area. The money will also cover back stops, fencing, excavation, drainage and grading.

 

“This will be funded by the hotel-motel tax,” said Smith.

 

For those thinking the funds could have been better used elsewhere, the only elsewhere is for recreation-related projects and endeavors. The funds are from the city’s portion of the hotel-motel tax and are required by law to go to those areas only.

 

City Manager Kim Haws said the decision was a good one by Council. He said playing fields has been an issue during his entire time as city manager.

 

“We were short several fields any way and with the construction of the new grade school taking some of that space it makes it much more important that we provide additional playing fields,” said Haws. “Our youth sports events in the city are extremely active and the last thing we want to do is to discourage children from participating due to a lack of space. A coach and a child should never worry about where they’re going to practice or play on a given night.”

 

The city still has additional funds remaining in the hotel-motel tax line item. After the deduction, the line item has a budget balance of $309,172 and, again, that money can only be utilized for recreational purposes.

 

Council also heard an update of what is likely the state’s first Internet Safe Exchange Zone. The idea sprang from the Bridgeport GFWC Bridgeport Junior Woman’s Club who teamed up with the city to create an area in a city parking space that will be videotaped near the Bridgeport city garage. GFWC Co-Presidents Anna Matheny and Elizabeth McDowell explained the program and how it came into existence to Council.

 

Click HERE for that story, which appeared on Connect-Bridgeport August 17.

 

As for the often hot topic of when to hold Trick or Treat, a decision was made quickly and with little comment. Council agreed to hold it on the actual day of Halloween, which is Monday, Oct. 31 and will run from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

 

“Holding it on Halloween; that’s such a novel concept,” said Mayor Robert “Bob” Greer with a strong touch of sarcasm that drew laughter from those gathered.

 

In the work session, the bulk of the 45-minute gathering was spent in discussion with DEA Group Supervisor Daniel A. Mavromatis. Mavromatis asked Council to support manpower issues relating to the new DEA Tactical Diversion Squad. No decision was made on the matter as Council directed staff to do a pro forma on what it would cost to hire one or two police officers to replace one or two that could be assigned to the TDS.

 

More on the TDS situation at a later date on Connect-Bridgeport.

 

The governing body received a report from City Engineer Tom Brown. Council regularly received reports on an annual basis from each department head and Brown broke down status of past projects, ongoing ones and future endeavors.

 

Also tonight, Greer presented a proclamation to coaches and players from the Bridgeport 11-Year-Old Little League All Stars that won the state title and also advanced to game three of the South East Region Tournament of Champions in Greenville, NC.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Assistant City Manager Jimmy Smith addressing Council on the new fields, while Council listens to his presentation in the middle photo. GFWC Co-Presidents Anna Matheny, left, and Elizabeth McDowell are shown below.