As two sports organizations in Millet look to build on past operations, town council has stepped in to lend its support and waive fees.
Millet and District Minor Baseball
Council agreed to waive Millet Minor Ball's past dues from 2014 and previous years, amounting to $384.
President Ron Buchaski attended council's Aug. 26 meeting to make the presentation. He informed councillors the organization started the year with less than $400 in the bank but still managed to make the season happen.
“Things are turning around . . . Millet Minor Ball needs some help,” said Buchaski. “Any forgiveness would be appreciated,” he added.
Before coming to a decision council wondered if waiving the fees was even monetarily possible. “There’re always, in council's budget, enough for a healthy amount of waivers,” said CAO Teri Pelletier.
Millet Soccer Association
Due to what Millet Soccer Association president Erin Saunders feels was weak communication between past and current members the offer from town council to pay the group’s field watering bill was not properly used.
In a letter to council Saunders states for the past two to three years the Town of Millet has been paying the water bill but an explanation was not addressed.
The wavier of the bill was to allow the irrigation system to help establish Paul Pay Fields. However, the association did not water as the system was broken, Saunders wrote.
“We have been trying since we made Paul Pay Fields in 2002 to get that root system something we could be proud of,” Saunders told council.
In order to move forward with the health of the fields in mind Saunders presented to council three options for consideration.
The first was to have Millet Soccer pay back what was waived between 2012 to 2014 but move ahead with the same agreement for a new agreed length of time, but including the 2015 watering costs.
The second option was to have Millet Soccer pay for all the watering it did this year and have the town install a second water meter, making the town responsible for irrigation costs.
The third option was to construct a new waiver agreement and have the two parties share the costs. “We could create a whole new waiver and just say what's in the past is in the past,” said Saunders.
“We want those fields to be great,” she added.
The previous two breaks in the irrigation system had coun. Carol Sadoroszney concerned. As she was not president at the time Saunders is not sure of the reason for the first break but knew the second was due to improper flushing, allowing the line freeze.
“We've already got two plans in place to make sure it never freezes again,” said Saunders.
Council decided to have town administration negotiate a new contract with Millet Soccer Association.