Nov
27
Amateur ball team may go to Mequon
ByIt seems there’s an interest in hosting a Northwoods amateur baseball team elsewhere in the metro Milwaukee area – Mequon.
A proposal by an owner and potential partners to bring a Northwoods League team to Waukesha’s Frame Park and build a stadium at the ball diamond there came to a halt early this year when financing fell through.
It seems the same deal is being offered to Concordia College in Mequon as was offered to Waukesha for the controversial use of frame Park.
Here’s a report from Journal Sentinel on the newest baseball proposal in which Northwoods is mentioned.
Mequon Mayor Christine Nuernberg is not well informed as to how this proposal will impact the neighbors. Or, perhaps she intends to ignore the neighborhood concerns just like Waukesha Mayor Larry Nelson did.
You cannot compare a Northwoods League schedule to a fall football league activity. A Northwoods League has 32 home games per year. Add all the college league games, other uses such as high school baseball, non baseball events, and you have a potential nuisance for the neighborhood.
These stadiums are for profit commercial recreational facilities. One should question if a for-profit business enjoins legally with the non-profit entity, is the tax exempt status protected? I don’t know that answer.
Certainly the lesson learned in Waukesha is that the developer and businesses stepping forward need to be held accountable financially to protect others from financial failure for a minimum of 10 years. Perhaps performance bonding by the league would be appropriate.
Whatever Mequeon does, the Mayor of Mequeon should be mindful of the ordinances designed to protect peace and right to enjoyment of property by the neighbors. A nuisance, after the fact, could be her legacy and drag the city into legal issues that could be avoided.
There is a God! Its bad enought paying for Miller Park, let alone Mayor Larry getting involved in Baseball. I cna’t imagine how much taxes would have rose if we had to finance that garbage!
Hey Larry, we could have had a Woodman’s on Sunset Dr instead of two PickN Saves…
Steve, ditto. You definitely said everything in my mind better than I ever could have.