The City of Rhinelander and the School District of Rhinelander have an agreement to use existing softball and baseball fields after passage by the city council Monday.
The School District approached the city earlier this year about constructing a new ball field at Pioneer Park, now the site of the Hodag Farmer's Market and the Oneida County Fair. In discussing the issue, the city discovered they had no formal contact in place for the school district to use the ball fields.
Committee chair Sheri Belliveau....
".....the amount of the contract was based on costs we determined were factual with the School District of Rhinelander for $1,525 a year for 5 years...."
The contract was only to establish a yearly fee paid by the district to the city for existing fields. No discussion on the possible addition of a field at Pioneer Park was on the agenda.
In other action, the city approved a budget for next year that slightly reduces the city's portion of the tax bill. Finance Chair Mark Pelletier said they were a half-million dollars over when the process started.
He says they made some tough choices to get the budget to balance while also not raising taxes...
"....through some cuts...some changes in insurance, no increase for employees, real sharp pencils besides, we were able to come up with a budget that totaled $8 million 949,000...."
The city later purchased $132,000 worth of golf carts for the Northwood Golf Course, which prompted an audience member to question the cuts to city employees while still purchasing the carts. The council also approved naming Ron Lueneburg as Interim Police Chief. Lueneberg declined any additional benefits he was authorized to get for the additional duties.
The city also reached an agreement with the School District of Rhinelander on use of existing city ball fields, but there was no agenda item on a possible new park at Pioneer Park that has drawn some opposition.
