Elyria forum tackles sports complex concerns

Built in the 1920s, Ely Stadium has weathered nearly a century of wear and tear and it shows. Among the problems: exposed conduits, water damage, poor ventilation, deteriorating wood beam ceilings, leaky flat concrete rooftops and mildew.

ELYRIA — Many residents, parents and community members want the construction of a new all-sports complex to be a part of the Elyria Schools master plan, but they need more information from the district on cost, maintenance and other issues before agreeing to vote yes in November.

District officials recognize it will not be easy answering all of the questions with its concerted efforts to slightly back off while city officials push an income tax measure in March.

Elyria Schools is looking to go to voters in November. The district is navigating the delicate balancing act of keeping up the district’s momentum and informing residents of its plans without competing with the city, which wants voters to increase the income tax rate by 0.5 percent in March.

Paul Rigda, Elyria’s former superintendent now acting as a consultant to the district, said the district wants to see the city win voter approval in March. The city needs the additional revenue, but just as important, no one wants to see two dueling issues on the ballot in November — a likely scenario if the city fails in March.

“We don’t want to compete with the city in November,” Rigda said Saturday during a public forum focusing on the sports complex. “We have backed off intentionally because we want this (city income tax) issue to pass in March.”

City Council President Mike Lotko, D-at large, did not attend the meeting but has previously said he doesn’t want a November showdown with the schools.

“That would be stupid,” he said. “If we are both on the ballot, no one wins. That’s why I have always had concerns about the timing of the city issue and the timing of the upcoming school issue.”

Built in the 1920s, Ely Stadium has weathered nearly a century of wear and tear and it shows. Among the problems: exposed conduits, water damage, poor ventilation, deteriorating wood beam ceilings, leaky flat concrete rooftops and mildew.

Lotko, who has a son on the varsity basketball team, is a big supporter of the district and is in the stands during many sporting events. In fact, nearly every Council member has an Elyria Schools connection. No one opposes the district’s efforts to build for the future, but faced with dwindling revenue, City Council members know it has to take independent steps to safeguard the city’s financial future.

On Saturday, the focus was on student athletes.

Debbie Rader, a mother of four, said she and her husband, Rob, a 1989 Elyria High School graduate, moved to Elyria four years ago. In that time they have attended a number of sporting events. She is not happy with the rutted soccer field at Pioneer Field and the nearly nonexistent concession and restroom facilities. She believes now is the time to put the issue before voters in hopes of a change.

“I believe if you have the positive attitude that we can do it, we support it, then we can get it done,” she said. “That’s what got this building built in the first place. We had that positive attitude.”

The public forum in the high school’s Performing Arts Center was the backdrop because voters paid for it in its entirety. In 2007, when the state offered Elyria money — only after school officials worked to change a law in Elyria’s favor — the split was one-third from the state and two-thirds from Elyria taxpayers. However, the state viewed the Performing Arts Center as an extra amenity, something taxpayers had to pay for in its entirety.

The proposed all-sports complex would fall into that same category.

Before residents sign up for such a deal, they have plenty of concerns.

“You can build it, but will you be able to afford to operate it?” said John Carney, a graduate of Elyria High School who moved back to the area about three years ago.

Jim Wall, the district’s business manager, said the district does a great job of maintain its aging properties. But Ely Stadium is nearly 100 years old, built without protection from the harsh Ohio elements.

“We make it safe to use every single season because we maintain it,” he said. “We are constantly doing work out there.”

In addition, Superintendent Tom Jama said the district collects 0.5 mills each year from the high school bond issue for property maintenance. The money is used to maintain the high school and will be used to maintain the district’s new properties.

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