MINNEOLA, Fla. — A "for sale" sign could soon go up at a brand new multi-million dollar sports facility in Lake County. Elected officials in Minneola said they might sell the city's baseball fields.
The city said it's facing a serious budget deficit and the maintenance on the facility is expensive.
When Minneola resident Dave Yeager walks the city's 25-acre athletic complex, he said he gets frustrated.
"We worked really hard to get this for our citizens in Minneola. Everybody can play here, but it's for us," Yeager said.
Barely a year after the multi-million dollar facility opened, city officials are considering a plan to sell it. It costs taxpayers more than $160,000 annually to maintain the fields. Also, with the 2011 city budget projected to be $1 million short, Mayor Pat Kelley said he is trying to find a way to cut expenses.
"I don't think it's a good idea," resident Alex McGrory said.
McGrory said his kids play there. He wants the city to do a better job of marketing the complex to baseball leagues.
"They don't have much going on here," he said.
Officials said that end of the business has generated just $25,000. The city was given the property, complete with the diamonds and concession building by the developer of the neighboring subdivision. Officials then used grants and tax money to install $600,000 worth of lights.
Yeager, who served as mayor, remembers it wasn't a popular decision at the time.
"I was the last vote. And they said, if we do this they'll get rid of me and they did. But it was a good thing, folks." he said.
One council member has suggested a sale price of $1 million. They're hoping for discussions with the Lake County School Board.
WFTV
