Measure passes 3-2.  Community is complaining loudly, even though nothing comes from the current operating budget.  

1 minute ago, mcpapa said:

Measure passes 3-2.  Community is complaining loudly, even though nothing comes from the current operating budget.  

What's the complaint?

Just now, TheDeuce said:

What's the complaint?

This, what is the complaint?

While I understand the advantages to turf, I prefer playing on grass, and Mason County had probably the nicest natural turf field I've seen, at least of the fields I've seen in the state. I'm sure there are others that are as good if not better, but MC always had a really nice playing surface.

I think there is a secret society that believes whole heartedly that turf fields have long term negative impacts to kids health.

Ft Thomas put a turf field on the infield portion of Highland Park where Highlands High School baseball team plays and you wouldn't believe the amount of people that came out of the woodworks siting health studies that turf fields long term health implications trying to keep this fundraising efforts from happening.

So I wonder if Mason Co is reading from the same Medical Journals......

Just curious what is the price of a turf field?

Grass fields are the best…… till you have rain, and the soccer team tears it up playing in the rain

Grass fields are great till… your the guy who haves to stripe…. In the rain. If your school system has the pot to pee in you need to buy turf. Especially if you have soccer/football/lax.

In the modern day athletic climate where multiple teams of multiple sports at multiple levels (including high school, middle school, junior leagues, pee wee, etc) are using the same field to, not only practice 5+ times a week, but also play games, it is absurd to have grass fields. 

I am not sure the critics of Mason Co. getting turf understand the long term benefits of their community, as a whole, of having turf. It is far more than a nice place for the football team to play. 

If financial concerns are the issue, I would recommend renting the heck out of the field to soccer clubs, youth sports organizations, etc. I think you’d be amazed at how much money can be raised to pay for the existing, or a replacement, field. 

I don’t think finances are the issue.  70% is coming from facilities only funding raised by the nickel tax. 

The issue is Mason County not having an on campus softball field.  I think that should be given priority. 

2 hours ago, brooksville said:

I don’t think finances are the issue.  70% is coming from facilities only funding raised by the nickel tax. 

The issue is Mason County not having an on campus softball field.  I think that should be given priority. 

The turf on the football field allows it to become a multipurpose field for 24/7 use. Purchase a portable backstop and fence that will provide an opportunity for softball to be played on the new multipurpose turf field. 

34 minutes ago, 3BREDS2B said:

The turf on the football field allows it to become a multipurpose field for 24/7 use. Purchase a portable backstop and fence that will provide an opportunity for softball to be played on the new multipurpose turf field. 

That’s great that all sports can use it and I realize that.  However, the primary beneficiary is still football.  Football gets to play on a new turf, softball/baseball can practice on it when it rains or during the winter, of course if football isn’t using it first.  But Mason County softball has been around almost 50 years and does not have their own field to play GAMES.  It sends a bad message spending $1 million on football turf when a softball field could be built for 20-30% of that.  I’m glad they will have turf, but I think they should do that after they have a softball field. 

5 hours ago, brooksville said:

That’s great that all sports can use it and I realize that.  However, the primary beneficiary is still football.  Football gets to play on a new turf, softball/baseball can practice on it when it rains or during the winter, of course if football isn’t using it first.  But Mason County softball has been around almost 50 years and does not have their own field to play GAMES.  It sends a bad message spending $1 million on football turf when a softball field could be built for 20-30% of that.  I’m glad they will have turf, but I think they should do that after they have a softball field. 

How much money does the Mason Co. softball team make the athletic department a year? 

1 hour ago, Kenny Powers said:

How much money does the Mason Co. softball team make the athletic department a year? 

You already know this, but like most baseball/softball programs I'm confident that they lose money for the school. Actually, most programs do and in very large sums. Some schools can't even get football/basketball to break even. 

59 minutes ago, ChickenWyngz said:

You already know this, but like most baseball/softball programs I'm confident that they lose money for the school. Actually, most programs do and in very large sums. Some schools can't even get football/basketball to break even. 

Haha yes. It was more of a rhetorical question than anything to show the reason why the football program would be getting the field. Not saying I agree with the idea, and honestly wish it wasn't the case, but that is the position athletic departments are in. 

8 hours ago, brooksville said:

That’s great that all sports can use it and I realize that.  However, the primary beneficiary is still football.  Football gets to play on a new turf, softball/baseball can practice on it when it rains or during the winter, of course if football isn’t using it first.  But Mason County softball has been around almost 50 years and does not have their own field to play GAMES.  It sends a bad message spending $1 million on football turf when a softball field could be built for 20-30% of that.  I’m glad they will have turf, but I think they should do that after they have a softball field. 

There is not space on the property for a proper softball field. They’d have to buy or extensively renovate land for it. Now we’re over $1million.  And that only benefits one team.