OCTOBER 25, 2024 |
Photo – Scoreboard at VFW Baseball Fields – Courtesy City of Rawlins
The Rawlins city council discussed using grant money and donated labor to install new scoreboards at the Little League baseball fields.
During the October 15th Rawlins city council meeting, City Manager Tom Sarvey explained that the city has received an $11,518 grant from Wyoming Community Gas. Every year, the natural gas supplier donates a portion of its profits back to member municipalities. The money is to be used for projects that benefit residents of those towns. Sarvey said the council must decide how to spend this year’s grant money.
Last year, the Wyoming Community Gas grant was used to purchase a new lighted scoreboard for the Rawlins Generals Baseball fields at the city’s sports complex. Mayor Weickum asked about the status of the scoreboard. City Manager Sarvey said the board was paid for but has not been installed.
Sarvey said the city is searching for an electrician to hook up the lighted scoreboard at the sports complex. Councilwoman Jacquelin Wells said a local electrical company has volunteered to perform the work.
However, Councilwoman Wells said she was told that the city denied the offer.
Mayor Terry Weickum said he would like to use this year’s Wyoming Community Gas grant to purchase new scoreboards for the VFW Little League baseball fields, located north of the Carbon County Fairgrounds. Mayor Weickum said new scoreboards will make both Wyoming Community Gas and the city look good during the proposed 2025 Little League All-Star Tournament scheduled to be played in Rawlins.
Years of neglect resulted in the VFW Little League baseball fields being unsafe.
Since 2021, the Rawlins Parks and Recreation Department has used Carbon County School District One recreation grants and funding from the city to return the fields to a playable condition.
At the October 1st city council meeting, Parks and Rec Director Nikki Howell detailed how she plans to use $200,000 of city funds to fix the fields and repave the walkways and parking lots. Howell said the upgrades will ensure the city is prepared for next year’s Little League tournament.
Back at the October 15th meeting, Councilwoman Wells said the city already has a scoreboard for the VFW ball fields, which was purchased using donated funds. Wells said the display has been in storage for two years. City Manager Sarvey said new electrical connections are needed before the scoreboard can be installed.
Sarvey said he’ll check on the status of the Little League scoreboard and report back to the governing body. Additionally, Councilwoman Wells instructed Sarvey to take advantage of the offered volunteer electrical work to hook up the display boards at both the Little League and sports complex fields.
