The Chanute City Commission and Chanute Recreation Commission met Wednesday night to discuss a facilities agreement in a joint work session.
Final action was not taken on the agreement, but city and rec commissioners asked questions about the draft, which will pave the way for renovations of the Santa Fe Park ballfields, the rec center and other improvements.
City commissioners Randy Galemore, Phil Chaney and Jacob LaRue met with the CRC board, with attorney Kent Pringle and Chanute Interim Superintendent Steve Parsons attending.
Renovation of six fields at Santa Fe Park is estimated at a cost of more than $1 million, which will be split between the city Parks Department and the CRC. City officials recently committed to new lighting to take advantage of current prices before the cost increases.
The agreement would cover 10 years initially, but would automatically renew annually for a practical total of 15 years, dividing the CRC’s $500,000 over 10 years.
The lump sum would replace a lease the CRC currently has with the city for the recreation center, formerly the Chanute High School. CRC pays $2,500 per month in utilities plus $1,000 for the lease, with any excess utilities and the lease payment going into a building fund.
(Read more: The Chanute Tribune – news,news/)