By Robert Medley
Managing Editor
Okarche Public Schools Superintendent Josh Sumrall appeared at the Town of Okarche meeting Monday, Oct. 25 to discuss the town-park where ball games for the school district are currently played.
Sumrall was also on the town trustee meeting agenda to discuss property where the town’s sewer lagoon is located.
The school district has plans to build new softball and baseball fields on land owned by the school district just west of the existing fields. The existing fields are on land owned by the Town of Okarche.
The new ball fields, and a band room, will be completed by spring 2023. Sumrall has stated the district would like to purchase the land just east of Kansas Avenue and Sixth Street for future use by the district, since the old ball fields will not be needed once new ones open for play. New lighting and artificial playing surfaces are planned as well as a concession stand, restroom and press box facility to be used for both new ball fields.
Sumrall told town trustees that in 1992, the Town of Okarche purchased land from the school district where the current fields are located for $10.
“The school is in a better financial situation today and we have interest in taking those fields and property back over if you guys have interest in that at all. I just want to bring it to your attention,” Sumrall said at the Monday night regular town trustee meeting.
“We wanted to show we have interest in that. We are going to build new baseball and softball fields. We would keep those fields current for Little League to play on and things like that. We are in a situation now we feel like we can maintain those,” Sumrall said.
Town trustees did not take any action at the Monday night meeting.
Sumrall said the school district is also interested in land used for a sewer lagoon in Okarche for agricultural education.
The district is also renovating the old elementary cafeteria for a band room. Okarche school board members will review those plans at a Monday, Nov. 8 meeting. Plans for the ball fields will be reviewed at a December school board meeting.
Town trustees will review the requests for consideration at a future meeting.
