Pine City Pickleball Court Funding Debate: A request by the Pine City Area Pickleball group to get funding from the city for soil and land testing at a possible pickleball court site failed during a recent Pine City Council meeting. The vote was split 2-2, preventing the city from helping pay for the evaluations.
Cost of Testing Raises Concerns
The Pine City Area Pickleball organization asked the city to help pay for two types of tests needed before building six pickleball courts. According to City Administrator Marcy Peterson, a topographic survey would cost around $3,000, while a soil boring test would cost $8,000. These tests would be done during the summer.
“Where they’re at now is finding out if the soil is compatible for this project,” Marcy Peterson said. “They’re at a standstill until they know that’s able to move forward, and then they’d go on to the engineering drawings.”
If the tests show the land is suitable, the next step would involve creating engineering designs, expected to cost $18,000.
Council Members Share Mixed Views
Council Member Kyle Palmer opposed the request. He said the Pine City Area Pickleball group had earlier promised to raise money for the project themselves.
“They were going to fundraise for everything else,” Kyle Palmer said. “And in my mind, if you need a soil boring test, then you should probably be planning for that and putting it into your fundraising event. The other concern I have is that we’re not going out to every organization that’s out there and putting in development for those organizations.”
Council Member Dave Hill agreed. He said the request should have been part of the city’s future budget plan.
“I’m not saying it would pass, but I’m definitely not going to vote for it at the spur of the moment,” Dave Hill said. “We don’t have the money in the budget for it.”
On the other hand, Council Member Gina Pettie supported the request. She said that since the land is owned by the city, the testing would benefit both the city and the group.
“If we have that sample, then we could move forward with something else if pickleball didn’t work out,” Gina Pettie said. “So I see it a little differently, like I don’t see it quite as a donation, but us taking care of our property and, you know, kind of meeting them halfway.”
She also added that splitting the cost with the group would be a good deal for the city.
More Debate Over Future Costs
Kyle Palmer warned that testing could reveal costly problems like contaminated soil.
“And if it turns out to be contaminated soil that we have to put a million dollars into to remediate, that could be a bad thing too,” Kyle Palmer said.
Mayor Kent Bombard said he was open to paying half the cost using funds from the sale of a city property.
“I kind of also fall on the side of it’s our land, maybe we should know what’s underneath there,” Kent Bombard said.
Dave Hill also raised concerns that the land might require extra work like pilings to make it usable.
“If you approve this, you’re going to have to approve every request going forward for the next organization that comes in and says they want tests and assistance,” Kyle Palmer said. “And, who knows? Pickleball might come back and say that they want engineering support. Where are you going to draw the line?”
Final Vote Stalls Project
A motion made by Gina Pettie for the city to pay for half of the soil and land tests failed in a 2-2 tie. Gina Pettie and Kent Bombard voted in favor, while Kyle Palmer and Dave Hill voted against. Council Member Dan Swanson was not at the meeting.
News in Brief: Pine City Pickleball Court Funding Debate
The Pine City Council split 2-2 on a request by Pine City Area Pickleball to help fund soil and land testing for proposed pickleball courts at Westside Park. Without the city’s support, the group’s project remains on hold. Council Member Dan Swanson was absent for the vote.