Conrad Complex negotiations stalled

Negotiations over the county's lease for the Conrad Complex appear to be deadlocked.

The board of trustees for the Conrad Memorial Cemetery wants to charge the county $24,000 per year to lease the ball fields, but the county Park Board is offering $5,000 per year.

For about 40 years, the county has been paying $1 per year for the lease.

If a new agreement isn't reached before the current lease runs out in September 2009, the $19,000 chasm could spell the end of the Conrad Complex.

"It does not look good at this point," Jed Fisher, the county's parks and recreation director, said Friday. "That's really sad for the community."

The two boards have been communicating through letters, but Fisher said he holds out hope that face-to-face negotiations will happen.

"Hopefully we can still get to the table," Fisher said. "These letters are kind of drawing lines in the sand."

In a letter to the county commissioners and Fisher, cemetery board president Jack Hensley said the trustees have a financial responsibility to keep the cemetery running. Hensley asks, "How would a prudent investor handle the lease of approximately 28 acres given its present location?"

Hensley did not want to speak about the situation.

"We're in the middle of a lease negotiation," he told the Inter Lake. "I think it would be inappropriate for me to comment at this time."

Hensley's letter suggests adopting a model based on the Kidsports complex.

"The concept of establishing a user fee per person, per sport, per year is worth investigating," he wrote. "We are advised that these fees for the youth involved at the Kidsports complex pay their lease entirely."

The Kidsports lease cost about $40,000 in 2007.

The Kidsports facility has 22 fields on 134 acres (plus several new fields under construction) compared to the 27-acre, seven-field Conrad Complex east of Woodland Park.

Adult softball teams currently pay $800 per team to play at Conrad, and that money covers basic utility costs. Fisher said that each complex user would have to pay an additional $20 to $40 to raise another $25,000, something Fisher believes could drive many users away, especially families that have a hard time paying the fees already.

During a meeting with the county commissioners Thursday morning, Fisher said his board had looked at various payment options, including an escalating fee schedule that would top out at $10,000 in three years.

The Park Board was reluctant to commit large sums of money because if the county increases fees to play at the Conrad Complex, fewer teams may sign up, and the budget difference would have to come from taxpayer dollars.

Both boards have left the door open for continued negotiation, and both boards agree that the county's continued presence at the Conrad Complex would be positive.

But with both sides holding firm on their dollar figures, the county may have to find a new spot to play ball.

"I'm very concerned at this point," Fisher said. "I'm wondering if we're going to have to start ripping out hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of improvements this fall."

To return the property back to the owners in its original state, the county estimates it will cost more than $100,000 to tear out fencing, dugouts, pavement, light poles, sprinkler systems and septic tanks.

According to Fisher, the county consistently has put in $20,000 to $50,000 of work each year at the complex.

The county is working on the purchase of the Stillwater Christian School facilities and property, but that might not come about in time to make a smooth transition from the Conrad Complex to new facilities.

Recreation-league players might lose a season or two of play, which could reduce the number of players who return, which would in turn reduce revenue from league play and concessions.

"Now it's a wait-and-see game," Fisher said.

Reporter Michael Richeson may be reached at 758-4459 or by e-mail at mricheson@dailyinterlake.com