City submits bid to Little League

By: smcbrayer@morganton.com | Morganton News Herald
Published: November 01, 2008

By Sharon McBrayer
smcbrayer@morganton.com
MORGANTON — It's all over but the waiting.
The city of Morganton sent its final package to Little League this week and officials are holding their collective breaths until mid or late November.
That's when Little League is expected to make its final decision about where it will move its Southeast regional headquarters, which is relocating from Gulfport, Fla.
The Little League board of directors will meet on Nov. 14 about the proposals, said Mel Cohen, mayor of Morganton. But, he said, Little League officials have said they want to take their time to make a decision.
"There are going to be two disappointed cities, and I hope we're not one of them," Cohen said.
The final package Morganton offered includes building the 5,000-seat stadium, administration building, restrooms, a concession stand, a merchandising building and administrative parking lot, said Gary Leonhardt, director of parks and recreation for the city.
It also includes Morganton agreeing to allow Little League to use four existing practice fields, batting cages and maintenance of fields and facilities at Catawba Meadows Park on Sanford Drive, he said. The city would charge Little League a fee to maintain the facilities.
The cost for the project is around $7 million for everything.
Leonhardt said the city, including pledges from Burke County, other cities, individuals, businesses, civic and service clubs, will likely pay about $3.6 million of the total. Little League will likely put in around $3 million of the cost, he said.
Morganton Parks and Recreation Foundation has pledged $1 million. The county has pledged $100,000 over a five-year period to the effort.
The town of Drexel has pledged $1,500 over a three-year period, said Matt Settlemyer, town manager.
The town of Valdese has adopted a resolution of support for the project. Jeff Morse, Valdese town manager, said the town council still needs to give its final approval, but he expects the town will pledge $2,500 over a three-year period.
City officials, through an economic impact study, estimate having the headquarters in town could bring in $5.1 million annually.
Cohen and Leonhardt said a lot of people worked really hard in a short period of time to come up with a final proposal.
"The proposal we put together was beyond my wildest dreams," Leonhardt said. He said to be able to come up with a proposal as quickly as they did shows Little League the area is a can-do community.
Cohen said it's not hard to raise money when you're raising it for a brand like Little League.
"Little League sells itself," Cohen said. "It's like Chevrolet, apple pie and motherhood. It's a class entity."
Cohen said It was nice the way people came together for the grassroots effort to raise money.
"It was a major effort. It really was," Cohen said.
Until Little League makes its decision, Leonhardt is keeping his fingers crossed.
"I just hope we get it," Leonhardt said.

City submits bid to Little League

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