Tuesday, January 22, 2008

City responds to Fieldcrest baseball issue

Tuesday, January 22, 2008 - Posted 8:37:55 AM

Mayor Bill Koos read a statement condemning the actions of the Fieldcrest Board of Education in voting to move Fieldcrest baseball games back to Wenona again.  The Mayor's comments at the Monday City Council meeting can be read at the end of this article or you can view a video of the Mayor's comments by clicking here.

Other news

Mayor Koos said that the proposed waste water treament project is proceeding on schedule.  The Mayor said that the City will need to get approval from Waste Management, owners of Section Six north of the city, to do drainage work on their property.  The Mayor said that the City can take on a new bond to fund the project since the money for the current bond has been spent 4 years prior to the expiration of the current bond which is due to expire next year.

Alderman Brian Petersen said that a job ad will be posted to replace city worker Ron McCurdy who resigned from the City last week.

Mayor Koos said that a new business, the CIrcle J Saloon, has opened at the site of the former Third Base Tap on West FIfth Street.

Mayor Koos comments on Fieldcrest baseball issue

Voting to move the high school baseball program out of Minonk by the Fieldcrest School Board last Thursday is a clear demonstration that they lack respect for Minonk’s traditions, our residents, and the democratic process. Only two school board members remained committed to their August 2007 vote. Apart from them, not honoring an agreement with Minonk by the school boards decision should send shock waves across the entire spectrum of the consolidated school district and all of their agreements. Even after an agreement has been approved the administrators and school board have now demonstrated that they can change their policies and agreements with little or no concern for individual communities or the effect it may have on residents that make up that community. Every community that comprises the Fieldcrest School District must now cautiously calculate every step if they enter into an agreement with the school out of fear that they will change their policies with no respect for tradition or the democratic process. For Minonk, this is no longer a perception but a reality in fact.

Minonk has had a tradition of hosting high school baseball games at Veterans Park for over thirty years. That tradition is now gone.

Furthermore, the residents of Minonk financially contributed in excess of $25,000.00 dollars through taxes, private donations, and volunteer labor towards the renovation of the ball fields this past year. This common goal was to not only, benefit our recreation programs, but more specifically rectify the complaints concerning field conditions made by the Fieldcrest School District. It is quite apparent by the school boards actions that it did not matter.

It also didn’t matter that a democratic vote was taken by the Fieldcrest School Board in August of 2007 that clearly stated that high school baseball would remain in Minonk. No exceptions or amendments were added to the motion. That vote is now nothing more than a patronizing display of self serving image preservation. If actions speak louder than words then Minonk acted and lived up to their end of the agreement to improve the field conditions (recent weather conditions point to our success). Fieldcrest acted and failed in every way to abide according to the spirit of the agreement.

In February of 2007, without any warning to the City of Minonk, Fieldcrest moved the baseball games to Wenona. They cited poor field conditions as primary reason for the change. It was only through concerned residents at a city council meeting that the City was even made aware of the move. After a 30 year tradition the decision was made to move the games and they didn’t even inform us. Nonetheless, by August, the city had acquired the necessary financial and professional resources to make the renovations feasible and successful. However, the city was very clear to the residents and the school that if Fieldcrest chose not to play in Minonk the renovations to the west baseball diamond would be done in such a way that they better suited the future of Minonk’s recreation program and not high school baseball. In August the Fieldcrest School Board voted to move the games back to Minonk. From this point on, Minonk based every renovation decision on the fact that the 2008 Fieldcrest baseball program would be back at Veterans Park. Originally drain tiles were to be installed to improve drainage, but after site analysis by our professionals it was not a matter of drainage, but rather “bowling of infields” low spots surrounded by high spots. We needed to raise the crown and then grade the fields so that the water would no longer “bowl up”. Recent events by Mother Nature have proven our professionals were correct. Drain tiles were not needed, thus saving the taxpayers dollars and still solving our problem. After the renovations were completed I fully explained the decision not to install drain tiles in two fifteen minute conversation to two school board members. Though they may have not been satisfied with the explanation, at no time did they mention to me that they had applied for a regional tournament or that they were going to revisit the agreement because drain tiles were not installed.

However, again without notice or warning to the City of Minonk someone at Fieldcrest applied to host an IHSA Regional Tournament with Wenona being the field of choice. And to preserve home field advantage the Fieldcrest School Board voted last Thursday to move High School baseball back to Wenona. This completely nullified the agreement they had voted on last August.

If the regional application was submitted before the August 2007 vote and the Fieldcrest School Board did not tell the City of Minonk before it committed its resources then clearly the board was not “bargaining in good faith.”

But if the application was submitted after the August 2007 vote then someone at Fieldcrest authorized its submission and ignored the agreement and the democratic process.

The date of this application and who authorized it is critical because there were several occasions including my conversations with school board members about drain tiles that the city could have been made aware of the applications existence or its possibilities. Instead the city received silence from Fieldcrest Administrators and School Board with no indication that an application had been submitted.

In any case the residents of Minonk have a right to know the truth. When was the application submitted? Who authorized it? And did the School Board know of it submission?

If the administration authorized it without the school boards knowledge or approval then there is the existence of shadow policy maker(s) that are neither accountable nor responsible for their actions. However, if the application was submitted with the approval of the administrators and the Fieldcrest School Board (or individuals of the board) then there is a Stealth Decision Making Process that is designed to ignore the democratic process. What does this vote say about what we are teaching our youth and future leaders? That the democratic process is something you learn about but when the votes are counted is not worth the paper it is written on? It is the democratic process that protects our traditions, residents, and educates our children. Not an application for a regional baseball tournament.

                        Viewer comments on this article

Un-Knowing wrote on 2/5/2008 at 13:32:48

Does anyone know how many of the players are from each town? I would like to know the answer for this year and the last two years. I tried looking the info up on the schools web site but it was not much help ..... a financial waste of a good tool!

Minonk Continued wrote on 2/5/2008 at 02:18:38

Are the games starting a little later than 4:00 or 4:30 or do the kids that are finishing up their homework running late at the end of school have to rush 100mph up Rt. 251 to make it to the games on time? This is ridiculous, SHAME ON THE FIELDCREST SCHOOL DISTRICT!

Minonk wrote on 2/5/2008 at 02:18:13

Does anyone care about what the kids want? Since this is about the topic of where the baseball games should be played, why not get input from the baseball players themselves. Even players from past generations. I played ball for 4 years in Minonk and remember having practice once or twice at Wenona's field. I vaguely remember their field but do remember not being all that impressed with it. Minonk's field was crap all 4 years I played but only because water would pool up on it. From my perspective of having played at both fields and only using the condition of either field as a reason on moving, I would vote to stay in Minonk 100%. The only players this is good for are those that come out of Wenona, and for the coach who works in Wenona.

O.K. wrote on 1/28/2008 at 18:10:12

You are completely right that the Superintendent is responsible. The responsibility of the board is to take advice from them. Obviously he does not understand policy and procedure, because he is currently his own wife's boss, which in most businesses would be a conflict of interest. You now know that he is a problem and you can no longer look the other way. The board needs to not re-hire him if he really is that big of a problem.

To Response wrote on 1/26/2008 at 18:25:15

You said "Let's start to come up with solutions". Well, the only solution to this whole problem is Superintendant Randy Vincent is NOT doing his job of enforcing and carrying out school board policy. The policy states that the games are to be held in the town where the school is located. If he would have done his job, this whole can of worms would never have been opened in the first place and there never would have been any issue. The elected school board members of this district set the policies for the district, not Randy Vincent an employee of the district.

District 6 parent wrote on 1/26/2008 at 18:03:10

I think the diamonds in Toluca one author is referring to are the fields at the new park. While the girls hosted a game or two there last season, I'm not sure they are large enough for baseball. They are nicer than Wenona. Sorry, but thems the facts. Kids drive up and down 251 every day. Let's not make it about that. What this is about is Wenona getting baseball when the board said they would return the games to Minonk. I agree the games should be held in Minonk as that is where the high school is located. However, if we have a chance to host regionals and the requirements are for the games to be played in Wenona so be it. I notice tho that since two of the members who voted for the games to be moved reside in Minonk and Dana, no one is attacking them as they vilified Toluca and Wenona board members when this issue arose last season. I read somewhere that the applications are submitted two years in advance. Can anyone confirm this? It would be nice to separate fact from fiction.

Response wrote on 1/26/2008 at 15:34:10

Actually, MDR's last graduating class was 1992. In the fall of 1992, the consolidation took place, which made 1993 the first graduating class. I agree with someone who said this is political only because they did go against their agreements with the city of Minonk and allowed them to spend the money and then stabbed them in the back. If you listen to the mayor he stated they would have spent the money differently. Why is everyone saying that this is about poor little Minonk having to drive. I doubt anyone from Minonk believes that. The problem is that you are having students drive to practice and putting your child's safety, in the hands of any kid who can drive. If your kids are already in one town, then don't make them drive to another. We all need to stop fighting about this. When you slam Minonk or Wenona, you are fueling a fire and blaming the other town. Let's start to come up with solutions! This does make other schools look at us badly.

lets play wrote on 1/26/2008 at 16:05:11

Wenona kids do drive down and up 251. There is no bus for football or basketball. We have been driving down to Minonk for years so our kids to play sports. football and basketball are played down there. Minonk needs to grow up a little one sport in Wenona look out. Cry us a river.

Fieldcrest Grad wrote on 1/26/2008 at 08:40:23

Seriously, I live in Minonk and totally agree that the games should be played here. BUT, we are Fieldcrest now..NOT MDR. I'm sure you are all very nostalgic, but get over it. There hasn't been MDR since 1993. How many years ago was that? We are what we are, and that is Fieldcrest. Try to have a little school pride. The students came together as one district right away, why can't everyone else. I made some of my best friends because of the consolodation. I'm really sure MDR was not the "perfect district" ...

To Taxer Payer 2: wrote on 1/26/2008 at 05:44:40

Well said...and people don't think that affects the school system? Ever wonder why only one of the schools in our system reaches "blue ribbon status"....hmmm. People can talk all they want about Wenona being a TIF but there are drawbacks to that as well.

Tax Payer 2 wrote on 1/25/2008 at 18:40:50

Oh, yes, I really want to move to Wenona. They are "growing"! Nice place to live with all of the apartments and the "low income" people that live there from Chicago. (who do not pay taxes) The crime rate is up quite a bit and that is known as a FACT. No thanks I will live elsewhere. Town has really gone down the tube since Mr. Gochanour built his lovely apartments.

Grow up people wrote on 1/25/2008 at 10:57:56

Some of these posts make me think the high school kids are more mature that most of the adults around here. Get over yourselves.

also to: MDR 4 LIFE wrote on 1/25/2008 at 13:07:36

The 2 school board members you are talking about voted to STAY in Minonk with baseball. That was not enough votes there fore that is why it is moving. DER!!!

To: WW22 wrote on 1/25/2008 at 14:10:03

What baseball field in Toluca is better then Wenona? The last I checked, there wasn't a high school sized diamond in Toluca...There was a junior high sized diamond at the middle school, but not a high school sized. GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT.

To: MDR 4 Life wrote on 1/25/2008 at 03:30:17

I am also from Minonk, Wenona Citizens pay the same tax rate as us for the school, their taxes are not reduced. But the problem is the tax money that the school get is held in a tif fund, the school only get the tax amount it was when the tif was started. The other money is for the city of Wenona to use. Minonk also has tif districts but they are only small sections of the town to draw business in, unlike Wenona entire town tif. With comments like you made it make us people from Minonk look very stupid, so get your fact straight next before making comments, I really don't like being made stupid.

Joe Tucker wrote on 1/24/2008 at 19:25:42

At times like this, I'm proud to say that I'm an MDR Mohawk, not a Fieldcrest Knight.

MDR 4 LIFE wrote on 1/24/2008 at 18:11:20

Wake up Wenona! As long as your on a free ride with district 6, you should not even have a vote on the school board. Wouldn't it be nice if we all had our real estate taxes reduced to nothing? No wonder there is more growth in Wenona than the other towns that comprise Fieldcrest. Maybe the 2 board members that voted yes to move the games, should think about relocating to that area!!!

I agree wrote on 1/24/2008 at 17:55:08

WW22, you made a good point. Toluca does have the best field, so if the board wants to really move the sport that should be the place. I don't want it moved there, but if it is about the best field let's see what their response is to that. If it is truelly about sports, that is the best solution. If they disagree, then it is truelly about Wenona vs. Minonk.

wondering wrote on 1/24/2008 at 11:55:09

What would it take to unconsolidate?

ww22 wrote on 1/24/2008 at 05:53:53

Is it true rhat Mr. Wiezorek fills a position at the IHSA that actually has input to where the Regional baseball games are played? I think he forgot where the games were being played when he submitted the application. Did Mr. Wiezorek also have the SAME RESPECT for Girls Softball? I am sure he would have put in for those to be played in Toluca (they do have the best diamonds in the area).

Mohawk by Heart wrote on 1/23/2008 at 18:27:57

First of all I support Mayor Koos and the entire city council of Minonk in regards to the high school baseball playing home games in Minonk. They rose to the occasion and addressed all areas of need towards keeping the 30 years of tradition of high school baseball in Minonk. How sad it is to the very vindicitve administration spending our tax dollars on nothing they planned on using anyway, I guess if you don't live in the district it doesn't matter anyway!!! I was very impressed with your open communication with Minonk officials. Ha! Ha! Wouldn't it be great if all of Minonk and all of Toluca were in a TIF district? Who would float our ship then? More power to Hillenburg and Barth for voting with their conscience, instead of their tax dollars.

Fieldcrest District wrote on 1/23/2008 at 18:54:40

You all have to remember that the school board is elected officals they can be voted out just as quickly as they are voted in. Maybe it's time to clean house start running it like a business and produce the best product we can a childs education.

Lester Lindley wrote on 1/23/2008 at 20:21:21

One good thing about the democratic process that the School Board can't continue to betray is that voters will have a chance to change things, even if just a bit, at the next school board election.

to: maybe i am wrong wrote on 1/23/2008 at 17:35:11

i for one and still proud of the teachers and faculty at south for becoming a blue ribbion school...but the school board wasn't the one that helped achieve that the teachers were....so that has nothing to do with how disappointed i am in them....we may be happy with the teachers but not with our school board...and yes education is the first priority but if they are going to ruin the schools budget that affects the students education also...so you can't ignore one or the other

Want my moneys worth wrote on 1/23/2008 at 15:26:27

The real issue here is not who drives or plays where but that again our school board members has screwed up over and over and it is costing us all. They cut Stremlau lose from coaching volleyball but somehow screwed that up to where we still had to pay her some big bucks even tho she didn't coach, not that I am complaining about that part. Then we pay big money to have Mr. Vincents wife teach Spanish when I am sure given more time with advertising the job, we might have found a lot younger teacher with as much experience in speaking and teaching Spanish but with out the extra thousands of dollars we are paying for Mrs. Vincents many years of experience and I think she is absent a lot. The whole thing comes down to who can we trust anymore to tell us the truth? And thanks and my apprectiation to the few of you that are trying hard to do the right thing for the better of all of us, students and parents.

Real Issue wrote on 1/23/2008 at 16:42:56

Until Wenona contributes it's fair share of tax dollars, no one will support a change of venue to their town for any reason.

To: Disgusted too wrote on 1/23/2008 at 12:29:39

AMEN!

am just wondering wrote on 1/23/2008 at 09:35:01

I am pretty sure TOluca and Wenona kids drive down 251 daily. Whether it is for a sports practice or just plain coming to school, i am sure they do it. Yes, busses run for the school part, but i am willing to bet there are plenty of those kids driving as well. IF that is the case, then talk to the board about transportation for these practices since the referendum passed!!

So am just wondering wrote on 1/23/2008 at 09:38:35

no Toluca or Wenona kid EVER has to drive down 251. There is a bus that brings them to everything in Minonk?? Football, basketball, volleyball, musicals and plays?? they never have to drive it??

Question wrote on 1/23/2008 at 07:46:43

If I recall, Fieldcrest school district has hosted regional basketball games and sectional games in Wenona’s gym. Why on those years didn’t they move basketball to Wenona?

am just wondering wrote on 1/23/2008 at 07:43:50

No Toluca or Wenona kids have to drive down 251 they can take the bus. For having practice in Wenona there is no bus offered for practice so the kids have to drive.

reply to To: I believe wrote on 1/23/2008 at 05:54:08

I do know the real issue at hand. No one is ever going to get along together and accept the fact that these schools consolidated YEARS ago. It's just the way things are and no one is going to ever be happy. You don't like the school board, then run for a seat and try to change things!!!!

Koos is right wrote on 1/23/2008 at 07:21:47

I believe that mayor Koos is right on in this matter. The heart of this issue is who is this traitor who applied for this regional, knowing it force our team to play the regular season games in Wenona. Seems like they had their own agenda rather than the will of the people in mind. Was it a coach who lives in Wenona? Thank you, Mayor Koos for speaking the mind of a lot of Fieldcrest residents. (not only Minonk)

I am just wondering... wrote on 1/23/2008 at 05:57:25

i know that safety and having kids drive back and forth on 51 was one of the big issues at hand with this whole baseball thing. Well correct me if i am wrong, but don't the Toluca kids and Wenona kids have to drive back and forth down 51 or ride a bus down 51. So what makes the Minonk kids any better that they shouldn't have to drive that route?? Just wondering... if safety is the issue, then it is for all kids. NOT just those playing baseball!!!!

An Outsider's Opinion wrote on 1/22/2008 at 20:51:25

Part 2: As for the fight about sports being too important. I completely support this community for the opportunities that they do offer children. Sports is only one, and I am sorry if you don't realize that. Minonk has a great support system for many programs in town. Obviously there is a love for sports, but there is nothing wrong with that. Last time I checked, gas was expensive. Thanks for one more bill! I forgot, the school board doesn't understand the concept of a budget. This is just another way for some people to stick it to Minonk. I am tired of hearing each of the towns complain about each other. Somehow we have to start building bonds between towns. We have to find a way to make this work. The first step is to return the baseball games to Minonk. I hope that there is a huge crowd at the board meetings for a while to protest this and I hope that the political powers that be start to find applicants for the next election who will be positive for our schools.

An Outsider's Opinion wrote on 1/22/2008 at 20:49:44

I think the High School should play in Minonk for the simple reason that the High School is in Minonk. I think each town should be proud of the school that they have and stop trying to move the sporting events to a different town. I have heard people complain that they think one basketball game a year should be played in each of the other towns. How ridiculous! Why does this community allow this school board spend so much money. We have one of the top tax rates in Marshall, LaSalle, and Woodford County, which was not listed in the pamphlets that were handed out for the referendum. Of course that will continue to go up and no one does anything but let them continue to spend money. I don't want to see the schools lose any activities, but the waste of money is getting worse. Let's see a board that tries to save a little money. You would be amazed what you can do on a budget. I wonder if they have ever heard of one.

Playing Games wrote on 1/22/2008 at 16:11:38

I would be greatly interested if everyone spends as much time and energy discussing national politics, world events, and culture as they do the politics of a silly game that seems to be the identifying characteristic of this community. It doesn't matter where the games are played, rather that the children in the district are able to play them. The real issue here is the communicative barriers that seem to exist between the communities. We are no longer Wenona and Minonk and Dana and Rutland (fogive me if I have forgotten a community). We are Fieldcrest and until we all pull together and recognize the unity of our school system, there will be no progress. Some of you talk as if you would like to go back to MDR. There is no going back. Stop looking to the past and start living in the here and now and help our children to have a positive school experience in both curricular and extra-curricular activities.

Maybe I'm wrong.... wrote on 1/22/2008 at 16:26:27

but I thought the biggest issue at hand is and always should be the education of our children. Seems to me many of you are wasting time and breath over issues that have nothing to do with learning. Seems to me a while back everyone was pretty proud to see that Minonk (South) was a "blue ribbon school". Funny how we forget academic milestones so fast, yet are quick to point fingers at other towns and pout when things don't go the way we want them to. Education should be the first thing we look at in a school system, and I hope I'm not the only one who thinks that we have good educators at Fieldcrest.

Baseball wrote on 1/22/2008 at 15:58:37

How is hosting a regional a good thing for the school? The school district does not charge fees to watch the games do they? I'm with the other opinions,we should of just left it good ole M-D-R. It does seem that the root to all evils is Wenona and the problem needs to be addressed.

Disgusted too! wrote on 1/22/2008 at 14:05:20

To the people of Minonk who voted for the consolidation, how do you feel now? Hate to say "we told you so".

To: I beleive wrote on 1/22/2008 at 11:50:55

Do you even understand what the true issue at hand is? Play the Regional in Wenona. Who cares! Wenona don't meet Regional specification either. Your missing the point of this whole situation. It is about the School Board lying to the taxpayers and having one town spend more money then what was needed. The bigger issue the Administartor and Board doing whatever they want.

My heart and soul..... wrote on 1/22/2008 at 12:05:29

will always be a very proud M-D-R Mohawk

Disgusted with Wenona wrote on 1/22/2008 at 12:51:51

Why don't we just get to the heart of it and admit that it always has been, still is, and always will be Minonk against Wenona in everything. The baseball field is just one of the many issues to be fought over. Wenona is a financial leach on all the other towns, but they require the bulk of the tax money paid in by the other towns. They will NEVER be satisfied until all power and control of the school district is in their hands. We can never be truly consolidated with their attitude and I, for one, voted against the consolidation and would be ecstatic to have the school system back to where it was. You took our money Wenona, now get out of our school! Or are you not done with our money? If we had taken the money we spent on your school's repairs and the tax money you stole from us, think of the ball diamond we could now have. Will the "Wenona Consolidated School District" make you happy? What do you say, Minonk residents? Where do you stand?

I beleive.. wrote on 1/22/2008 at 11:13:30

and someone will correct me if I am wrong, but it is my understanding that the Minonk diamonds do not meet IHSA rules in order to have regionals played there. That is why when they applied to host regionals, it was for the Wenona field. Yes the city may have done all the work and fixed things up, but the fields still must not be to IHSA rules. Hosting a regional is a good thing for a school, so if that is the case, maybe the city needs to find out what the diamonds actually need in order for that to happen.

Kudos to Koos wrote on 1/22/2008 at 11:20:36

Although I don't always agree with our city, I am proud of our Mayor for openly speaking out on the baseball issue. Hopefully one day our school board actions will reflect what is best for us as a whole. Until everyone works together, our schools will be self-serving, and our children will continue to be the sacrifice for their parents' immaturity.

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