Members of the Kingfisher Girls Softball Association addressed Kingfisher city commissioners at their monthly meeting last week about improvements at the Briscoe Softball Complex.

Brad Wittrock presented a master plan of improvements to the fields, restrooms and concession areas the organization would like to accomplish in cooperation with the city.

“We’re not coming just looking for a handout,” he said. “We’ve been doing a lot of work and we are prepared to do a lot more.”

The seven-member KGSA board has been working to build up the softball program, which has about 100 players signed up this year and hosts six tournaments plus league games.

“We had 24 teams at our biggest tournament and that really brings in business to our convenience stores and restaurants,” he said, noting that local restaurants report a 20-30% increase in revenue on tournament weekends.

“Restaurants ask us for a list of tournament dates so they can be staffed up.”

The local hotel also reported that its occupancy jumps from 62-64% weekend average to 98-100% occupancy on tournament weekends, Wittrock said.

The association would like to start with improvements to the northeast field, including adding lighting to allow night games, he said.

KGSA has been actively fundraising to finance requested improvements, including a $65,000 commitment from a single donor.

“We’re asking the city to match that and if you do that we are confident we would not need any significant additional funding this fiscal period,” Wittrock said.

“How much revenue are you all generating?” Commissioner Ryan Deatherage asked.

“About $4,500-5,000 on concessions and gate fees basically cover the cost of umpires,” Wittrock said.

In response to another question from Deatherage, City Manager Dave Slezickey said improvements at Briscoe Park fall into the category of expenditures that can be made from the hotel/motel tax, once the terms of the hotel’s incentive package are met.

Commissioners took no action at last week’s meeting, but Slezickey said he would present funding options for consideration at a future meeting.

Capital Improvements

Afteralengthycontinued discussion regarding capital improvements, Slezickey said he would create a matrix at next month’s meeting allowing commissioners to rank projects in order of priority.

“We have a lot we need to do and we’re in a comfortable funding availability situation to be able to start doing some things,” Slezickey said. “We just need some direction from you on what to do first.”

“In regards to what my thoughts are, I would like to see us develop an asset management inventory so that we can make informed decisions moving forward, along with master drainage plans,” Commissioner Geoff Covalt said.

“Those things can specifi cally inform us as to our infrastructure needs and direct us in appropriate ways.”

“Can we come back with a scale of 1-5 on these projects as to what needs to be done now as opposed to three years down the road?” Deatherage asked. “And what about cost estimates?”

“Prioritize first before cost estimates,” Commissioner Kyle Mecklenburg said. “We need to know what is most critical.”

“What we really need is your feedback – what we have on this list that we need to focus on,” Slezickey said. “We don’t want to get 15 cost estimates that cost us money to get and then leave them sitting on the shelf and have to redo them later.”

P&Z Reappointments

Commissioners voted to reappoint Eddie Payne and Reggie Redwine to new three-year terms on the planning and zoning commission.

“We appreciate their willingness to serve new terms,” Mayor Roxie Alexander said. “Those are crucial jobs.”

In other business, commissioners voted to:

•Approve rezoning of two lots in the industrial park from industrial to commercial at the request of Tru Blue Weed Control, owned by Charles Trout.

•Postpone the lease or purchase of a new mower for the Parks Department at the request of Deatherage, who asked Slezickey to inquire whether a machine with a larger deck and gasoline engine could be requested.

In his report, Slezickey commended the electric and fire departments for their quick response to a generator fire and the Chamber of Commerce for its successful Aug. 6 events.