Well, the girls will be getting their bathroom/concession stand this spring. It may not be ready for opening day, but it will be there. I, however, will be there on opening day. Maybe I'll even get to throw out the first pitch.
To say the last meeting was "exciting" is to put it mildly. Softball parents were out in force. News 12 was there filming the meeting, and a fine time was had by all. The two members of Council who initially opposed the resolution were interviewed, and they brought up their reasons for voting "no." The audience got to speak before the vote, and about an hour later, we passed the resolution 4-1. We could have cut an hour off the meeting if I were allowed to make the motion right away. But alas, the rules state that the audience has a turn to speak before any resolutions are discussed.
It wasn't an easy road. There was more than one threat of a lawsuit. As I explained publicly, I don't do well with threats. I was able to diffuse the one that was going to take place before the meeting. If that had been filed, there would be a gag order on the Council since we can't discuss any item in litigation. There would be no bathrooms if that had gone forward.
So now what do I look forward to? Oh, yes, there is election in May, and everyone on the dais except me is running for something. What an interesting time lies ahead.
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I applaud your efforts to move this issue forward. I don't think anyone was against the girls getting restrooms. The cost of this facility was the issue. I agree that it would have been resolved sooner had you made the motion but I also understand the public's right to comment before a vote is taken. That is the democracy in action part of the process. Kudos for getting this issue resolved.
I did not care for the hystrionics employed by Councilman Martin when he attemted to incite the softball crowd by saying that we've spent 4.5M on the boys and we're arguing about bathrooms for the girls. First, Mr. Martin and Ms. Updegrave are the only members of the previous Council who are still on the dias. THEY are the only ones who had an opportunity to vote on the 4.5M of the five seated last Tuesday. Secondly, the inciteful comment about shutting the girls out is hyperbole. The turf fields built with the 4.5M are for little league, soccer and an all purpose field that has markings for field hockey. None of those sports prohibits or precludes girls from participating. Just because some children/parents don't sign up the girls to play little league doesn't mean that they are not allowed to. Girls have been playing little league for over 20 years in Jackson. Soccer is almost 50/50 boys and field hockey is an all girls sport. For the record, softball can be played on a little league field...just move the pitcher forward to accommodate the softball rules.
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