04/08/1997 Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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laiows the ball does not stay in the back stop. She had wondered if the Hot Stove Organization had an insurauce policy, but has heard tonight that they do. If there is any bodily injury or properiy damage, the board of education has advised her that it is the responsibility.of the organization. She made several requests: the primary contact in tlie event of injury; who they would contact if there is inappropriate behavior by individuals using the ball diamond other than Hot Stove people, and who would be respousible for the maintenance of the diamond, the surrounding field fence, and the field. She was requesting to have this in writing before it is approved, because later on she does not want to have to come to the board and hope that she can get something done. She appreciated the commission's couceru about the dust, safety, and sanitation. She was very disturbed that the school board did not notify the residents when this was approved in February. She was also angry with the North Olmsted Building Department because they did not make an inspection and believed that it was tlieir responsibility to check various maps and not relay on a hand drawing that was presented by a resident. She has agreed to go along with the baseball cliamond but there are a lot of issues that need to be addressed and as long as it meets with the commission's approval, and she gets her written statement she will be happy. Mr. Osiecki, a neighbor, introduced his wife and thanked the commission for asking the same questions that they had. After listeuing to the discussion and listening to the residents sitting behind lum who live beside Clague Park, he clid not realize what was happening in his back yard. He advised that the schedule was to be Monday through Friday from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.; Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Sunday for whatever hours were available for practice. He stated tliat these are all the hours that he is home to enjoy his yard and his children. He is concerned about the safety of his children, not only from the balls coming into his yard, but the strangers who may be. coming into his yard. They tell their children not to speak to strangers, but these strangers will be less than 90 feet from his property line. Mrs. Osiecki asked if it could be guaranteed that just this age group would be playing. Mr. Osiecki stated that the port-a-potly would be directly in line with his kitchen window and patio and he would like the port-a-potty moved back so he cannot see it or people going in and out of it. He questioned how this plan could be acceptable since everyone else presented architectural plans, uot just a sketch, and noted that the parking lot shown was originally used as a play ground; and neither the otlier parking lot nor the school build.ing are shown on these plans. He was also told by the Hot Stove people that a home ru.n fence would be constructed and advertisements would be placed on it. He questioned how this would affect his property. He has concluded that, after t.hiuking about this, he is opposed to having.this in his back yard, especially since he has been told by the residents sunouudiug Clague Park what it is like lMng behind a park. Ms. D. Wershell, who lives behind Clague Park stated diamond 2 is within 30 feet of her house, and contradicted the 9:00 a.m. practice for Hot Stove, since they have been there at 7:00, 7:30, and 8:00 a.m, in the 20 years that she has lived there the cliamond has.never been watered down. Her drapes have been destroyed, the siding is terrible because of the dust, and she cannot leave her windows open. They have complained, but nothing has ever been done. Regarding the port-a-potties, she suggested that they nail them down because children turn them over aud set fire to them. Mrs. Koziol added that all of the other ball diamonds in North Olmsted are surrounded by trees or a fence, at Birch it is wide open, so whatever happens is happening in their back yard. Mr. Scott, who lives next to Clague Park, asked how much the city is going to put out to maintain the diamond, noting that it would be costing the tax payers to maintain the diamond. Mr. Murphy responded that the port-a-potty was not a necessity, but they were putting it in for the children. They were spending their money to improve conditions, not to make things worse. He believed that they are doing tremendous things for the city, and he has spent hours and hours to find places for the children to play. Since they took. away Clague's two diamonds this is being done to keep child.ren off the streets. They are not making any money from this, the way the other people at this meeting are, they are trying to put in ball parks for the city. He maintained that there was no other location in the city for a diamond. He stated that these children could only hit about 100 feet and are not 9