GRANGEVILLE — At the Nov. 20 board meeting, Clearwater Valley School District 245 trustees voted to allow and make some repairs to the Clearwater Valley Junior-Senior High School baseball field.
CV baseball coach Josh Bradley presented a plan to work on the field, highlighting that he, students and other volunteers have been working on the field for years, including building dugouts, bullpens and moving the backstop.
“The class of 2017 welded a homerun fence, and a couple of years back we added a snack shack, announcer’s booth, media room and storage facility,” Bradley explained. He also reminded the board of the senior project that is adding some cosmetic and needed physical changes to the field.
Bradley asked for permission to place a permanent awning that would cover the concession area, including the barbecue.
“This would really help with our concessions, and, as usual, we will involve players to help with the job,” he said, as well as donations (materials and in-kind) he has secured through his own contacts and friend base.
He also explained the backstop is chain link, and right in eyesight view and would be beneficial to move.
“We want to take down the poles and add netting to the system, similar to what Orofino has, which is so much better for visibility,” Bradley explained.
He added that, farther down the road, they would like to replace stands with stadium, seats, but have made do so far with repairs and painting.
“Is there any district money going into this?” asked trustee Jon Menough of Elk City.
“No, we are not asking for funding, just approval to do our own fundraising and get started and work on it when we can, when the weather allows,” Bradley answered.
The board approved unanimously the CV baseball field improvements.
In related news, light repairs on the field were discussed.
“At some point, the Federal Pacific panel boxes on the poles need replaced,” said Mountain View School District 244 Superintendent Alica Holthaus, explaining these faulty boxes have caused fires across the country.
Bradley was asked to comment and he said they had put brand new lights on the poles within the last couple of years, with assistance from Avista, but that many were not working now.
“It’s the infrastructure, and Avista cannot do any more until that’s fixed,” he said. “Two of the lights are crucial for baseball.”
Trustee Troy Biesecker pointed out that Freedom Northwest Credit Union, KYRO and other donors had contributed, as well, but it’s to a point where the school district will have to bear some of the cost to address the infrastructure.
The board voted unanimously to use grounds and maintenance approved funds to fix two poles for about $7,000, and address the pole switches and additional poles and issues at a later date.