WAITSBURG — On Wednesday, December 20, the Waitsburg City Council voted to approve a three-year contract for Snake River Little League (SRLL) use of the little league fields at the fairgrounds.

Abby Grende of Waitsburg, acting on behalf of Waitsburg parents, worked with the city to draft the contract in response to a decision by the SRLL Board at its November 30 meeting to disqualify Waitsburg’s ball fields from use for the 2024 season.

On December 5, 2023, the SRLL board posted a press release on Facebook announcing its decision.

As stated in the post, “The biggest change this year is SRLL will not be using the Waitsburg Fairground Fields. Due to the condition of the fields and challenges in getting a contract with the city, we wont be using them this year. For kids in the Coach Pitch and Minor Player pitch divisions you will have the option to choose Dayton, Prescott, or an open draft option for registration.” T-Ball games are not affected and will continue to be played in Waitsburg at the elementary school field.

“My goal has been to make happen what the League asked for,” said Grende, “a multi-year contract, Waitsburg representation on the SRLL Board, funding for the fields, and volunteers to work the fields. Gopher damage needs repair, we need new bases, cleaning of dugouts, permanent benches, weed control, re-working baselines, and reshaping pitcher mounds.”

During public comment at the council meeting, Grende stated that she had arranged a meeting with SRLL President Jessica Ruffcorn and Brendan Moore, Little League District Superintendent, for Wednesday, December 27, to hear whether SRLL will accept the new city contract.

“I’ve already talked with SRLL President Jessica Ruffcorn, and she says they won’t reconsider letting us play league games on our fields for the 2024 season,” said Grende. “But approval of this new contract will at least allow us to use our fields for practices, giving us more time to raise money to improve our fields for league play in 2025.”

Lloyd Knudson, a Waitsburg parent, and Little League coach, served on the SRLL board last season. According to Knudson, the board approved, by majority vote, at its March 2023 meeting, for Waitsburg representatives to work out a one-year contract with the City of Waitsburg. Knudson later left the board due to increased family obligations.

“They didn’t notify us ahead of time to say they were going to do this,” says Knudson. “But playing games in Dayton or Prescott isn’t the issue, it’s the practices. If a coach says they’re practicing in Dayton five days a week, that makes it almost impossible for Waitsburg families to do that.

“I felt it was a convenient move on the board’s part because there weren’t any Waitsburg people to argue it. It’s unfortunate because it feels like they’re putting their feelings toward the city (of Waitsburg) above the kids.”

The three-year contract would be in effect from February 2024 to February 2027. The city and the local Little League have previously approved one-year contracts for the fields’ use. The last two years, Ruffcorn asked for a five-year contract, which the city declined. The SRLL board subsequently agreed to a one-year contract to ensure the kids in Waitsburg could continue participating in Little League.

As in the past contracts, the city will not charge SRLL a field use fee and agreed to basic maintenance, including mowing, spraying, and watering the fields; SRLL is responsible for improvements and care to areas used for league activities. The work would be done by Waitsburg parents and volunteers, with funds raised through SRLL.

Facility improvement projects include new surface-mounted benches, bleacher repair, and covered dugouts. These changes will require more funding and must be done in coordination with the city. SRLL provides general liability coverage for activities under its sponsorship.

Grende said that if SRLL rejects the new three-year contract, the Waitsburg community can break from SRLL and form its own Little League program or miss playing in this season. This would require recruiting board members and raising funds to pay for equipment, supplies, and fieldwork, according to Grende.

A Times’ request for comment submitted to Jessica Ruffcorn, SRLL Board President, was not answered by press time.

In other city council business, Ordinance 2023-1084 was approved to amend a portion of the 2023 city budget. The amendment accounted for income at year-end, including money from the state Hotel/Motel tax. Hinchliffe thanked Tiina Jaantinen, co-owner of The Royal Block, who was in the audience.

The mayor opened the public hearing for the 2024 Budget. Randy Hinchliffe presented the proposed budget, including plans for a dog park at Waits Mill Park and permanent fencing for the pickleball courts at Preston Park.

He said the most significant projects in the budget were on the street system, including sidewalks, updating the small water system plan, and completing the flood feasibility study with the Army Corp.

After the hearing was closed, the council unanimously passed Resolution 2024-1085 approving the 2024 Budget. The budget is available on the City of Waitsburg website at http://tinyurl.com/bdebpunr.

The council approved Ordinance 2024-1086, updating cemetery regulations in the municipal code. Hinchcliffe said the ordinance would clarify rules concerning the limit of two interments per lot. The first can be a casket or cremated remains; the second interment can only be cremains. Only one headstone is allowed, which can be removed and re-engraved, or a plaque can be added to the stone. An exception is made for military burials, which can have a second headstone.

The ordinance was approved unanimously.

The council also approved service agreements with Hawkins Law, Invoice Cloud, and Basin Disposal. The mayor reminded the public that neither the city nor Basin Disposal picks up leaves, and residents can take loose or bagged leaves to the bins in the city yard.

In her report, Jillian Henze acknowledged outgoing Council Member Court Ruppenthal for his support, brainstorming, and unwavering support at the Parks and Recreation meetings.