Use of Ball Diamonds at Atwood Park Brought to Atwood Village Board Meeting

By Doris Elmore
Staff Writer

Mitch Fleming, Travis Brown and Phillip Klay, representatives of the Atwood-Hammond Youth League, attended the regular meeting of the Atwood Village Board on Monday, March 8.

Fleming addressed the board regarding the youth league and ALAH girls’ softball team using the Atwood ball diamonds at the park this year.

The board had approved the use of the diamonds for the school and some ALAH playing dates at a previous meeting. The league representatives said that they are not against them using the diamonds, but said there is a scheduling conflict between games and practices. They added that the youth league needs it too.

Trustee Haley Ely stated that nothing was said about practices. She said she would discuss this with the school and sort it out. She wants everyone to be able to play.

Fleming told the board they were very pleased with the improvements made to the diamonds; they were going to be nice to play on. He also stated that they will have their playing schedule within the next two weeks. The A-H Youth League is a part of the Okaw Valley League.

A total of $12,005.53 was approved by the board for expenditures.

Other business before the board included:

Water softener salt bid was accepted from Gunther Salt Co. in the amount of $127.00 per ton delivered.

Bid letters were also sent to Cargill and Morton, but no reply was received.

The board approved hiring Marsha Eastin as the new custodian for the village at $15.00 per hour with 90-day probation.

Clean-up day has been set for Saturday, May 8, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Trustee Chris Stoltz reported that Atwood Police Chief has been working on ordinances. She would like to see the Sav-Mor building turned back into the police station once the new clinic is completed and they have moved.

Trustee Bill Fleming, new finance chairman, told the board he had hand-outs for each committee to complete for the new budget.

Trustee Allen Kilber brought up the subject of banning leaf burning within the village limits. Kilber said the board had been approached at previous meetings and he thought the board should make a decision. The board discussed the subject, but no decision has been made at this time.

Daniel Schmidt of EDC of St. Louis presided over a joint review board meeting of the Tax Increment Financing District (TIF) at 6:30 p.m., prior to the regular meeting. During the meeting Schmitt discussed this subject again and answered questions from the board.

The next meeting of the board will be held on Monday, April 12, at 7 p.m. at the Municipal Building.