Little League season in doubt

PRESCOTT – There may not be a Little League baseball season this year.

At January’s meeting of the Prescott City Council, Thursday night, Parks Director Carlos Van Hook informed the council the little league field at the Johnson Sports Complex is in such bad shape it can’t be used this year. He’s soliciting bids for repair and the one he’s received so far is between $20,000 and $25,000. However, the Parks Department doesn’t have the funds in its budget for the repair.

He continued, saying to make the field at McRae Park usable for Little League play would cost $10,000 to $15,000. Van Hook added the field at City Park also needs repair and it’s in the best shape of the three fields.

Mary Godwin, executive director of the Prescott-Nevada County Economic Development Office, suggested applying for a Parks and Recreation Grant through the state, adding it may not help for this year as the application isn’t due until August. She pointed out it’s also a 50-50 grant.

Carl Dalrymple, city accountant, said there’s no money available for this right now. There’s a list of equipment department heads want and they’ve been put off till the middle of the year to see how the budget is.

Van Hook said he’s spoken with Robert Poole, superintendent of the Prescott School District, and told it doesn’t have the money either.

Prescott Mayor Terry Oliver suggested calling the Arkansas Municipal League and seeing if it would be legal to get loans from the two banks in town. Godwin pointed out anything done to the field now would disqualify it from a grant.

In other business, the council approved a budget for 2024 with no discussion. It also approved the 2022 audit.

Oliver recognized Shanta Wiley as Prescott’s employee of the year and Eric Stovall as newcomer of the year.

The only other order of business was the approval of meeting times for the council. Other than January and February, the meetings will be held on the third Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. January and February are held on the third Tuesday because the Monday falls on a holiday.