ST. MARYS — A St. Marys schools resident turned in a petition with 402 signatures asking school officials to poll the public on if the district should build a $6 million athletic complex at the new school site.
Angie Ginter had asked to speak in the public portion of the meeting and handed board members the petitions that she and two other citizens had been collecting.
The conversation on whether to renovate Skip Baughman Memorial Stadium or build new has been simmering. In a phone interview prior to the meeting, Ginter said the reasons varied for citizens signing the petition. Those reasons she said included tradition at the present site in downtown St. Marys, costs and the fact of keeping a promise.
“On October 22, the public was promised a poll,” Wicker said. “It isn’t your choice to make.”
The Roughriders Philanthropic Association has been working to secure the funds needed to pay for the complex, estimated at about $6 million. RPA Treasurer/Secretary Dan Burke gave a brief report on the progress of the fundraising for the new stadium, saying there had been “a lot of positive support.”
“We are still in the early stages,” Burke said. “We have had a number of contributions and pledges.”
Burke said the group was not disclosing how much had been raised to this point, saying the board had a certain number they wanted to reach before making a public announcement.
Board president Karl Dammeyer said he did not recall the board making a promise to poll the public on whether to go forward with plans to build the new complex or restore the existing stadium. However, Ginter said the promise was made by board members in Oct. 22, 2015, issues of The Evening Leader and The Daily Standard newspapers. She also said during her presentation that the feasibility study for the plan had been pointed out as both unprofessional and a sham by a board member. Board member Bob Valentine has commented at several school meetings about problems he had with the study, conducted by Clover Apelian.
“What this has bought is mistrust,” Ginter said. “Board members will be dealing with these trust issues for long in the future. Keep your word and do the right thing.”
In a related matter, the board agreed to remove the two wings of the visitor bleachers at the current football stadium due to failing inspection. The board will look into purchasing or renting movable bleachers if needed until a decision is made on the stadium.
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