Village to purchase baseball field

FORT RECOVERY –– The village has OK’d a contract to purchase the site of the current high school baseball field.

Mayor Dave Kaup and fiscal officer Roberta Staugler signed the purchase agreement Monday following a Fort Recovery Village Council meeting.

In April 2017, Fort Recovery Diamond Club cited limited facilities, poor location and drainage problems with the field located at the west end of Caldwell Street. Fort Recovery Local Schools is planning to build a new baseball diamond just south of the current softball field on the east side of the Fort Recovery Elementary/Middle property

“Short-term plans are to keep it as it is as a ball diamond,” explained village administrator Randy Diller.

In the future, the property could be used for a new water plant or something else, he added.

Initial plans for the high school’s new facility include a new press box, restrooms, concession building, bleachers with canopies and a batting cage for the softball team. At an estimated $1 million, the construction is being funded by local donations in addition to a loan.

Fort Recovery School Board members in February authorized superintendent Larry Brown and treasurer Deanna Knapke to enter into an agreement with Fort Recovery Athletic Boosters for the project. Construction is expected to begin this year.

Also Monday, council decided to request a four-way stop at the intersection of Wayne and Broadway streets after it becomes the highway truck route. The proposed signs will need to be requested through Ohio Department of Transportation before they can be placed. (The street turns into Ohio 49 going northwest out of Fort Recovery.)

Council made the decision after debating whether a two-way or four-way stop would be best. Some noted they would like to see the stop made safer, while others said it would be easier to add stop signs later if needed.

Fort Recovery’s water tower will be receiving some maintenance repairs, including another cleaning, new paint and a urethane coating over the entire tower, Diller said. The project will cost about $45,000, and the coating will last about 10 to 15 years.

Council approved a request from Fort Recovery Local Schools to close Fremont Street between Williams and Wagoner streets between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Friday for the high school’s “seniorfest” activities.

It also approved a request submitted by Matt Wendel to close a section of Black Eagle Drive for a private party starting at 3 p.m. July 31.