SHERBURN — During the Martin County West School Board meeting on Thursday evening, a discussion about the possible purchase of the Fox Lake Sports Complex in Welcome was held, and two Welcome City Council representatives were present and answered some questions about the proposed contract between the City of Welcome and the MCW School District.

Mayor Dan Schmidtke mentioned that the assessed value of the property was $208,000, and the city had taken some losses over the last few years. Some losses were $18,000, and some were $12,000. The board asked what the losses were from and asked that the city representatives list the maintenance and infrastructure expenses that were included in the losses. The city and the school district split $40,000 for the old football/softball field. The city requested $100,000 and said they would take the $20,000 school payment off that amount, so $80,000 would be the payment and it could be paid off in five yearly payments.

The city said the water charges are separate.

The board asked about who decided to rent or purchase the land in the past. Council Member Elroy Glidden explained that in the past, there was no payment and the school district was asked to help with a $14,000 rent per year. The board said that the maintenance was supposed to come out of that rent and what the city paid in. In the past, the Fox Lake Sports Complex members thought the city was making improvements or repairs and the city thought the school would help, and the school thought the city was in charge of repairs. Sometimes, the repairs did not get done for a while until someone stepped up and paid for them. Both the board and the city representatives agreed that the situation was untenable and that it led to things not being done.

Glidden said the Lions Club in Welcome at one time owned that field, and when they disbanded, the city took over. The city representatives agreed to make up an itemized list of what the maintenance costs and repair and infrastructure costs were to explain the loss the city claimed. The representatives could remember a few, such as a new roof and repairing the backstop and water problems, besides mowing and gravel for the parking lot.

The matter was tabled until the information can be brought to the board.