New London to lease land to baseball association

By STEPH TAHTINEN

Mt. Pleasant News

NEW LONDON ? The City of New London is moving forward with its plans to lease property to the New London Junior Baseball Association.

During the regular city council meeting on Tuesday night, the council discussed changes to a proposed lease agreement with the New London Junior Baseball Association and agreed to take out some of the changes that had been made by the city?s lawyer.

Brad Huston, representing the association, said they were concerned with the paragraphs that said ?that for anytime, for no reason, without cause, the lease could be voided.?

Huston said that the association was having a problem with the idea of making an investment of adding a field or building and then at any time would have to leave with a 12 month notice.

None of the council members had a problem with eliminating these clauses.

?This is to benefit us, our kids, our grandkids, and hopefully their kids,? said Councilman Dan Berner. ?The key here is this is our decision, and if we say to the attorney that we don?t want it, then we don?t want it.?

?I don?t think we?re doing our taxpayers a disservice by not having it in there,? commented Councilman Kirk Miller.

Instead, the council added that the lease could be extended or terminated by mutual agreement of the landlord (the city) and the tenant (the association).

?I don?t have a problem with something that if we come to a mutual agreement or we fail to make a payment, which won?t happen, or the little league disbands,? said Huston.

If the association no longer exists in the future, the land will return to the city.

The council will be holding a public hearing on the proposed leasing of this property to the New London Junior Baseball Association on Sept. 4, at 6:30 p.m. in the City Office.

Also dealing with this property, the council approved the annexation of 31.68 acres of city property southeast of the city limits as it made more sense to have city property within the city limits, along with 2703 Old Highway 34 and 2707 Old Highway 34. These two properties must be annexed as well because they would be entirely surrounded by city property, and an island is not allowed.

The council agreed to give these property owners a tax break in exchange for annexing into the city. If they annex voluntarily, they will receive a tax break for 10 years, starting at 75 percent and decreasing over time; if they do not annex voluntarily, the tax break will only be for five years, starting at 50 percent and decreasing by 10 percent each year.

In other business, the council:

- Reviewed the traffic report for North Pine Street, as there were complaints by residents of this street that there is a safety hazard due to speeding cars after a stop sign was removed in June. The council was also presented a petition from Wes and Marla Willey containing signatures of residents who wanted the stop sign replaced. The issue will be discussed at the public safety committee meeting on Thursday at 3:30 p.m.

- Approved a resolution instituting proceedings to take additional action for the authorization of a loan and disbursement agreement and the issuance of not to exceed $3.14 million sewer revenue capital loan notes. This project involves replacing the city?s current lagoon system with submerged attached growth reactor (SAGR) system.

- Approved an ordinance amending park regulations, changing the hours of the city park to being open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. in the summer and 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the winter, with the change of hours happening on Daylight Savings Time.

- Approved the purchase of new ?Welcome to New London? signs. There will be two signs purchased from Signs and Designs in Mt. Pleasant at a cost of $698 for the 4-foot-by-8-foot signs and $180 for the angle iron. The signs will have a black background with yellow writing. they will replace the signs on West Main Street and by the Care Center. The cost will be divided between the city and the utility board.

- Approved a liquor license for Woobies, allowing Sunday sales but not allowing the outdoor service area, as there is not a proper set up for it.

- Approved paying off the fire department loan to save on interest.

- Discussed procedures for addressing nuisances/dangerous buildings.

- Approved the health insurance policy, pending approval of the utility board.