Lakers RequestP.O. Box 8444
Kalispell, MT 59904
The Honorable Tammi Fisher and Kalispell City Council Members:
Greetings Honorable Mayor and City Council Members. With budgeting season again upon
the Mayor and Council, the Kalispell Lakers Legion Baseball Association as user, operator,
steward and lessee of Griffin and Archie Roe Ballfields at the Begg Park Complex is pleased
and obligated to report to you our near term capital maintenance, restoration and
improvements plan for your consideration in formulating Parks Department budgeting.
The Kalispell American Legion Baseball Association (Kalispell Lakers) is a 501 C 3
organization governing American Legion Baseball in the greater Kalispell Area. Legion
Baseball provides the Kalispell community's premiere baseball for fans of all ages. Griffin
and Archie Roe Fields, property of the City of Kalispell, play host to teams from four States
and three Canadian Provinces in conference and tournament play each year. More than
seventy American Legion baseball games will be played on Archie and Griffin Fields, all but
one entertaining one or more teams from outside the Kalispell — Somers — Bigfork area. The
Kalispell Lakers organization fields two American Legion Ballclubs each season, one each in
the A and AA Divisions. The best ballplayers in the Flathead Valley go head to head against
the finest from Lethbridge, Missoula, Bozeman, Medicine Hat, Great Falls, Libby, Mission,
Spokane, Billings, Couer d'Alene, Eureka, Calgary, Cranbrook, and beyond. Ballplayers
from Bigfork, Flathead, Stillwater and Glacier High Schools combine within the Lakers
program. Guided by professional coaching these youths commit to a minimum five month
practice and game regimen. They make baseball their priority throughout spring and
summer in order to represent the Flathead Valley around our region for the love of the game
and an opportunity to extend their baseball careers into higher education or the professional
ranks.
Maintaining a professionally coached, traveling baseball club and quality playing facility
does not come cheap. Each young man wearing a Lakers Uniform is tasked with raising
over $1300.00 in season pass ticket sales, sponsorships and/or personal cash contributions.
Actual annual budgetary costs total well over twice that figure per athlete. In order to limit
budgetary requirements parents, board members, team members, students and community
supporters contribute thousands of volunteer hours in labor, fundraising, materials and
facilities management each year. The Kalispell Lakers receive no funding from Montana's
school system. They receive no regular funding from Flathead County. The Kalispell City
Parks Department graciously provides mowing services for both fields as well as irrigation
management. There was a period in the past when the City of Kalispell was able to
contribute roughly $10,000 annually for several years and these funds were utilized for direct
repairs and safety improvements to the facility infrastructure. Additionally the City used to
provide fertilization of both fields and weed control. Unfortunately recent years of budgetary
constriction has prevented the City from assisting in that manner. That means that this
baseball program relies on private funding for the overwhelming majority of our operating
and capital expenses. Ticket sales, concessions, advertising, fundraising events (Auction,
Golf Tournament, Family Party, corporate donations, and a vast contribution of volunteer
labor bolsters the contributions from players, and helps to limit expense to player families.
Despite the current lack of municipal funding we continue to aggressively maintain, replace,
repair and improve infrastructure at both ballfields for benefit of athlete and visitor alike. The
past two seasons, sans any City funding contribution, has seen the complete overhaul and
refurbishment of the Archie Roe backstop including completely replaced lumber, netting,
new guywires and padding (+/- $3000). All bleachers at both fields have been refurbished
($1500). A new pitching mound was constructed at Griffin Field in replacement of a
completely denuded remnant ($3700). A completely new sound system was installed at
Griffin Field ($2500) allowing for the older system to be relocated to Archie Roe where the
old system was in tatters. Also the last two seasons saw replacement of multiple exterior
electrical outlets, sod repair and replacement, installation of a replacement batting cage with
safety upgrade, repair and replacement of building wiring, plumbing, installation of safety
railing, refurbishment of ice making machine, replacement of flags and repair to flagpoles,
etc. $$$$.
Additionally we were faced with substantial flooding from Ashley Creek and we purchased,
filled and placed several hundred sandbags ($400), and utilized multiple pumps and other
equipment (rented, purchased, donated) for a period of several weeks in successfully
preventing substantial damage to both ballfields. It might be noted that no City or county
agency provided financial, logistical or other assistance in these efforts despite our requests.
In fact we had to police Kalispell employees from using our sand, purchased and donated,
for City utilization off -site.
Project List: 2012-2013
Because of economic impacts to voluntary contributions, the Kalispell American Legion
Baseball Association has been forced to trim its budgeting aggressively including a 35%+
increase in per -player fees in 2011. Nonetheless the Kalispell Lakers remain committed to
responsible stewardship of our baseball facilities by repairing, replacing or maintaining
existing infrastructure as it deteriorates due to age, use, damage and exposure.
Furthermore the last decade has seen the cost-efficient design, procurement and installation
of significant improvements in safety for players and fans alike as well as improvements in
aesthetics for neighboring properties and other park users and comfort and accessibility for
visitors to our complex. The escalating cost of infrastructure maintenance and repairs as our
facilities age does significantly impact our abilities to improve ballpark facilities for fan,
athlete and neighbor alike. In order to manage project tasks and improvements the Kalispell
Lakers Legion Baseball Association maintains a working task list for major capital repair,
maintenance and improvement projects outside of our general year-to-year operational
expenses. Typically this list contains roughly 3 years of projected major project requirements.
Cost estimations are based primarily on materials and only include labor, shipping, and
rental costs where project requirements exceed volunteer capabilities or availabilities.
Our current task schedule is as follows:
Infield amendment mixture, delivered + grading,
Both Fields (2x 33 yds): $ 13,500
Yearly Fertilizer 2012, City Applied, Lakers Cost: $950
Complete Archie Roe Backstop Repairs: $ 900
Replace Bleacher Planks as needed: $ 1550
Repair / Rehab Dugouts Archie Roe: $ 8300
Dugout Safety Rails Griffin Fld: $ 3800
Repair, Remount, Rehab Archie Roe Scoreboard $ 5800
Replace / Repair Dilapidated Signage both fields: $ 1600
Repair Bathroom Fixtures & Plumbing: $ 8100
Expand Perimeter Security Fencing $ TBD
Roof for East Seating, Griffin Field: $ 13,500
Add Foul Poles Archie Roe: $ 3750
Repaint / Re -stain Buildings & Structures: $ 1900
Defibrillator Battery Packs (Fall 2012): $ 340
Replace Aged Awnings Griffin Field: $ 4200
Complete Batting Cage Replacement Project: $ 6500
Replace Lighting, Griffin Field to minimum recc'd
Safety levels, Musco Inc., Low Pollution System: $ 155,000
Sweep & Seal Parking Lot (City In -Kind?): $ 4000
Washed Chip for Warning Track, (20 yds, City In -Kind?): $ 530
Pedestrian Signage & Pavement Markings,
Begg Park Drive (City In -Kind?): $ 3800
Please note that the most costly item — Lighting replacement and improvement - is included
in response to a request by City Parks for procuring an estimate of same from Musco Sports
Lighting. Obviously this item would require a major private donation or City Outlay and
therefore it could only be accomplished under those conditions. Whilst current lighting is
actually quite poor functionally in many respects, it is generally rigorous and in satisfactory
condition and does not require near term replacement for reasons of condition, exception
being that bulb and ballast replacement efforts are complicated by difficulties in achieving
necessary elevation to conduct repair by City or commercial vehicle.
We respectfully ask your consideration of this update in your review of City budgeting
matters and the Parks budget in particular. Should any specific or general funding be
available we are always most grateful for any contribution from any source. We welcome
any questions or comments that Ms. Mayor or council may have, and we likewise look
forward to a continuing cordial and cooperative relationship with the Kalispell City Parks
Department who is typically professional and responsive in our combined efforts.
Thank -you & GO LAKERS!
Sincerely,
'1 t
Joe Matulevich
Director for- Kalispell American Legion Baseball Association.
Home: 257.6467
Cell: 249.8381
Bus: 755-1333
E-mail: joe@apec-mt.com