Ephrata council talks field upgrade project

EPHRATA — Whether or not the city of Ephrata can participate in a project to update the Ephrata baseball field – and whether the city should – was a topic of discussion at the regular Ephrata City Council meeting Wednesday.

Randy Boruff asked the city for $20,000 toward the project, which would include upgrades to three baseball fields. The total project budget is about $430,000, Boruff said. With the upgrades, Ephrata could attract more baseball events, and more tourists and more revenue as a result.

One of the grant applications must be submitted by early July. Mayor Bruce Reim said it would’ve been better to get the request sooner. Boruff commented the original proposal was structured differently, but circumstances changed.

City manager Wes Crago explained that if the council decided to contribute, the most likely fund would be the hotel/motel tax, which is designated for tourism promotion. In answer to a question from city council member Valli Millard, Crago said city officials aren’t sure yet whether this project would be an allowable use of the money. “You can buy equipment that’s necessary for the putting-on of tourism or a promotional event.”

But the fields are Ephrata School District property, and Crago said city officials have to find out if that is an allowable use. The city has worked with the group that sponsors the annual concert series, Basin Summer Sounds, which is held at the Grant County Courthouse. Crago said city officials tentatively have concluded it would be an allowable use, but they wanted to talk to the Washington Auditor’s Office first.

City officials had hoped to have that information before the meeting, he commented, but it wasn’t available yet. City attorney Anna Franz said city officials should find out if participation would be allowed at all before proceeding further.

Reim explained he wanted to make sure Ephrata residents understood the money, if the council decides to participate, would not come from funds designated for other uses, like street maintenance.

In other business, Crago announced city officials are taking applications for an open seat on the city’s parks and recreation commission. Letters of interest will be accepted through June 24.

In answer to a question from council member Kathleen Allstot, Crago said applicants don’t need to live within the city limits. The parks and rec board will interview the applicants, recommend three finalists to Reim, who will make a recommendation to the council.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at education@columbiabasinherald.com.