Organizers with North Union Softball for Girls are looking to update operations at the ball fields over the next few months.
Ken Crumb and Wendy Wilson, both NUSG members, talked to Richwood Council on Monday about several updates to the fields at Richwood Park.
One of the key items was seeing how the organization could go about getting insurance on fields and equipment.
“We’re having trouble getting insurance for our equipment in the building, we need it in the building. We’re having trouble getting insurance on the fields and our new lights because we don’t own the property,” Wilson said. “We want to cover our investment in case a tornado comes around and tears all that out.”
The group estimated the amount would be around $140,000, with $70,00 each for insuring the concession stand building and the fields.
While the NUSG oversees operations of the building and grounds, it is technically owned by the village and rented to the group.
Wilson said they have approached all the companies in town but companies are unwilling to do it because the group doesn’t own the building.
Council did suggest approaching it from the standpoint of getting renter’s insurance, which Wilson said they would do next.
“We’re just wanting to know what direction to go in,” she said. “We’re just wanting to know how we can get what we need to protect this.”
Crumb said NUSG also wants to get two new shipping containers on the property so that they can store additional equipment.
“So it’s a shipping container to keep all our new equipment. We purchased a new lawn mower and we want them lined to keep everything dry,” Crumb said.
Additionally, NUSG is looking to put in a new PA system for announcements and eventually a scoreboard.
Also on Monday, Mayor Scott Jerew said the Richwood Area Business Association (RABA) is looking to expand the annual community yard sale in the summer.
“They do their yard sale in July but would like to offer one in the last weekend in May and the last weekend in June along with the one in July because we have such a great turnout,” he said. “It would be three village-wide yard sales a year.”
Council members said they agree it’s a successful event and the village would likely benefit from expanding.
“ I think it’s a great idea,” said Council member Pat Morse.
In other business Monday, council:
-Discussed the two candidates who expressed interest in filling George Showalter’s council seat. Council voted that Brad Plotner would take the position.
-Discussed adding EV charging stations to the village public parking lots. Jerew said there could be three total, one at the park, the lot next to village hall and the new public lot on Franklin Street. He said level two stations cost $3-5,000 each.
-Discussed the annual fishing derby at Richwood Park on June 1. The event will now be named for Showalter who passed away earlier this year.