Islamorada Village Council and the Monroe County School Board have reached an agreement to move forward with significant upgrades to the Founders Park baseball field. The two governing bodies met on July 21 in Marathon to settle long-standing disagreements regarding the project's scope and the use of the facility.

The joint meeting, moderated by former Marathon City Manager George Garrett, focused on refining the license agreement that outlines the responsibilities of both the village and the school district concerning the baseball field's reconstruction and usage. Attorneys for both sides, along with the superintendent and village manager, have been working to address concerns over the agreement's language.

Public comments at the session primarily emphasized the need to protect village taxpayers. The property is owned by the village, and the school board is investing approximately $3.8 million in substantial improvements as the tenant. The discussion was streamlined when both parties agreed to concentrate the initial project on a turf field, fencing, dugouts, and batting cages, aiming for completion before the next baseball season.

School board member Sue Woltanski explained that adding bleachers would complicate the current effort due to building code requirements for specific bathroom capacities linked to bleacher size. She noted that the school had already spent $20,000 on bleacher repairs in the past year. Elements such as bleachers, a concession stand, and a press box, initially part of a larger $6 million plan, will be deferred for future consideration.

Maintenance responsibilities for the updated facilities will not fall to the village staff. The school district estimates the annual maintenance cost for the artificial turf field to be under $50,000, which is comparable to the current maintenance expenses for the existing turf field. The parties also discussed insurance, with the current scope of work—turf, fencing, and dugouts—meaning there is no physical property to insure at this stage. Arrangements are being made to inspect the field for wear and tear after periods of use.

Security and liability were also addressed during the meeting. Enhanced security measures will include additional cameras at the park, and attorneys have been directed to review liability coverage. Differences concerning amortization and other schedules were resolved by establishing a 20-year lifespan for the license agreement. Detailed plans and drawings for the field upgrades are available on the village website. Final approval votes are scheduled for the village council on July 27 and the school board on July 28. More details on local news can be found at Keys Weekly.

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