Members of the Trigg County Fiscal Court and a contingent of Trigg County Schools leadership convened Monday morning in Cadiz — looking to better understand and solve some mounting concerns at the Trigg County Recreation Complex.
Though no actions were officially taken, discussions surrounded:
— The ramshackle and sometimes unsupervised use of the indoor practice facility;
— The demanding indoor practice facility schedule for the schools’ fall and spring activities;
— The intimate care of the Josh Nichols Soccer Field;
— The consistent dragging and preparation of the high school baseball and softball fields;
— The conflict of interests between game-night team fundraisers and the concession stand;
— And a growing list of “A-list” projects that need to be completed for a better experience.
Those who attended included Judge-Executive Stan Humphries and magistrates Mike Wright, Alana Baker-Dunn, Jeff Broadbent and Cameron Sumner, Complex Director Billy Fortner, Superintendent Bill Thorpe, Lady Wildcats Softball Coach and Middle School Athletic Director Monty Todd, Director of Operations Matt Ladd, High School Athletic Director Matthew Wilder and High School Principal Tim Bush.
Humphries first brought to attention his knowledge of several local athletes having random, illicit access to the indoor facility in the past year. Wilder informed the body that this situation has been rectified with the dismissal of a coach, and that in the future, the passcode to the building needed to be better kept by all district sports employees and their rosters.
This prompted further discussion about the potential of beefing up the building’s security, with Ladd, Thorpe, Wilder, Bush and Sumner suggesting that a scanning magnetic strip — combined with camera surveillance — might be the solution.
Also, because of public demand and other factors, Humphries besought the Trigg Schools panel to possibly revisit fall usage of the indoor mecca of Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, and to maybe consider removing a day from the spring rotation of Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Todd — a softball journeyman of the Jackson Purchase — called the building “one of the main reasons” he took his job in Cadiz, noting it as one of the “best in west Kentucky.” But he also was in agreement that perhaps times could be better mitigated, especially around weather and away games.
Wilder asked for a compromise of slimming the fall calendar down to 3:30-to-6:30 PM school slots, but noted “too many teams” need the property in the spring to relinquish a day.
In regard to the soccer field, Ladd urged it would be rather difficult to staff and haul two separate mowing teams — one for the Bermuda grass, and one for everything else — and Fortner nodded he could continue the outer trimming.
Ladd also brought along some tough news about the field’s irrigation system.
Todd and Bush both commended Fortner’s efforts in taking care of the TCHS baseball and softball fields during the season, but it was Humphries who mentioned that the fiscal court has full intentions of buying four hand-drags for the dirt infields — which can be used in any combination to make between innings and games faster and more efficient.
One compromise was all but struck between the parties, when Humphries made clear there should be no competition with the Complex’s concession stand on and after March 31 save for alumni matchups, and/or district and regional tournaments — because it is the primary funding arm for the entire grounds.
Wilder, and others, contended that grilling fundraisers were massively successful for booster clubs, especially during district doubleheaders and tournaments. Sumner mentioned a compromise.
This conversation led to all nodding toward the likely allowance of three dates each, beginning in April, for Trigg County’s baseball and softball teams to host concessions — and for those times to be coordinated with Fortner, so as not to create unnecessary staffing conflicts.
These potential dates, Humphries said, needed to be turned in by December 1 when schedules are finalized.
This group also went into executive session, in order to discuss the financial obligations and contract between the fiscal court, the Complex and the school district. Final approval will have to come during a regular session of fiscal court and the board of education.
