NORTHWEST ARKANSAS Focus : Voters narrowly pass baseball stadium plan
Posted on Wednesday, July 12, 2006
SPRINGDALE - Voters narrowly approved a sales-tax extension Tuesday to pay for a $ 50 million minor-league baseball stadium project in southwest Springdale.
With all 25 precincts reporting, the complete but unofficial results were: For......................... 2, 410 Against..................... 2, 393
Springdale Chamber of Commerce president Perry Webb, who watched the vote count at the Washington County Courthouse, whistled as the vote was announced. It was closer than he would have liked, he said.
"We thought it would probably pass,"Webb said. "We're sure surprised it was such a close vote.
"What it tells me is the citizens of Springdale want this to happen and they'll be watching very closely to see that it's done the right way."
Webb refused Tuesday to say which AA-level Texas League team he's been in negotiations with, but he's indicated in the past that it's the Wichita Wranglers, a minor-league affiliate of the Kansas City Royals.
Springdale Mayor Jerre Van Hoose said the team has asked city leaders to allow them to an- nounce the move.
"We're thrilled to win by one vote,"Van Hoose said. "We're just excited, and we think it will be a great asset to our community to have this facility here."
The vote will be certified Friday, said John Logan Burrow, chairman of the Washington County Election Commission.
City leaders hope the 6, 000-seat stadium will propel Springdale from an industrial community to a retail and entertainment destination. Plans call for building the $ 33 million stadium at 56 th Street and Watkins Avenue, near Interstate 540 and U. S. 412.
The planned stadium should be considered an amenity for Springdale, Webb said. He estimated the stadium will generate $ 600, 000 in sales tax and lease payments annually.
The Springdale City Council will negotiate a lease agreement that would likely include a 20-year contract with two five-year renewal options for a total of 30 years, Webb said.
The Wichita Wranglers organization and its owners, Bob and Mindy Rich of Buffalo, N. Y., have never acknowledged any deal to move the team.
Eric Edelstein, the Wranglers'general manager, didn't return phone calls Tuesday seeking comment.
Wichita Vice Mayor Paul Gray said Tuesday's election doesn't necessarily mean the Wranglers are moving. He congratulated Springdale on its work to build a stadium, but said he'll continue to work to keep the Wranglers happy in Wichita.
"We wish you guys success in trying to get a team to your stadium,"Gray said.
Wichita officials made public overtures in recent weeks to please the Wranglers organization with improvements to 72-year-old Lawrence-Dumont Stadium, where the team plays. STREET QUESTIONS APPROVED
The election asked voters to consider three ballot questions, including two to refinance $ 45 million in bonds that remain unpaid from the 2003 Street Improvement Project. The third question authorized $ 50 million for the stadium project. Besides the stadium, plans call for $ 17 million in street and other infrastructure improvements around the stadium.
The first question asked voters to refund $ 42 million in street-improvement bonds passed in 2004.
With all precincts reporting, the complete but unofficial results were: For....................... 3, 104 Against.................. 1, 661
The second question asked voters to approve $ 45 million in street improvements, originally part of a 2003 street improvement project.
With all precincts reporting, the complete but unofficial results were: For....................... 3, 313 Against.................. 1, 463
MORNING TURNOUT HEAVY
Early morning showers gave way to a warm, humid Tuesday, bringing out about 4, 800 of Springdale's 20, 512 registered voters.
Nancy Varvil, Washington County election coordinator, said that several of Springdale's 25 precincts had tallied more than 200 votes before lunchtime.
"It has been a very heavy turnout in Springdale,"Varvil said.
Jason Williams and his military family moved from town to town across America as he grew up, allowing him to see sports from New Orleans to Washington D. C.
"I love baseball,"said Williams, who has lived in Springdale for 10 years and has University of Arkansas Razorback baseball season tickets. "I'd like to have a baseball season after the Razorbacks."
Carol Custodio voted for the ballot question because she wants to take her grandchildren to games in Springdale much like she took her own children to Oklahoma City 89 er's games during the 1980 s.
"I think the city would be crazy not to do it,"Custodio said.
Sherry Young voted against the ballot question because she said the ballot language called for Springdale to pay for "all or part of"the stadium's costs.
Her husband, James Young, said he voted for the stadium because he likes baseball.
Debate on the stadium centered on whether public financing was necessary to bring professional sports to Springdale.
In recent weeks, Rogers Mayor Steve Womack acknowledged discussions with Benton County business leaders and a representative of John Q. Hammons to build a privately funded baseball stadium in Rogers.
Springdale Alderman Mike Overton criticized the stadium effort for using taxpayer money before beginning construction on the city's three east-west corridors of a $ 105 million street improvement program. Overton credited the stadium's backers with advertising Tuesday's election on billboards and on television and radio commercials. The chamber also forwarded e-mails urging chamber members and interested parties to vote and encourage neighbors to vote for the stadium. "The voters have spoken and that's the end of the story,"he said. "There was excellent turnout. Everyone that chose to, had their voice."
To contact this reporter: cmorasch@arkansasonline. com
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