Still NO answers from WB in regards to fair and reasonable questions

As of today, 8:40am, still NO answers from Winchester Baseball.  For the record, this information was requested back on October 6, 2009.  Click here for e-mail dialog that started back on October 6, 2009.

I want to make it very clear, that I am a baseball coach and very supportive of the game but unfortunately folks, we are facing epic budgets constraints and the what lies ahead of us does not look very promising.  With that said, I am not sure how City Council members can justify in spending up to $273,000 dollars of the taxpayers money.

Furthermore, Winchester Baseball is really NOT just Winchester residents, Winchester Baseball should rename their entity to something like Shenandoah Valley Regional baseball because this groups includes Frederick County (majority of players of WB are Frederick County residents), Clarke, Warren and even Hampshire and Hard counties from West Virginia.  Why are we spending our City Tax Dollars to support these other counties and even two WV counties?  Have we already consolidated or what?

To close, it's just the wrong time for spending such money when considering the status of our economy.  In my own honest opinion, I believe that City Council needs to save this money and spend it more wisely for this moment in time unless these other counties of Frederick, Clarke, Warren, Hardy and Hampshire County, WV are willing to throw in some cash.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From:
Date: Sun, Jan 10, 2010 at 10:39 AM
Subject: Re: Breakdown of kids playing in Winchester Baseball

To:

Cc:



To all addressed and CC'd:

Today is Sunday, January 10th at 10:25am and NO response from the Winchester Baseball organization for the requested information.

For the record, this information was requested back on October 6, 2009 ... see attached document.

Not sure why this is so difficult about getting this information but the perception is that its some big secret in my own honest opinion.

Regards,
JEFF



---------- Forwarded message ----------
From:
Date: Wed, Dec 30, 2009 at 9:26 AM
Subject: Re: Breakdown of kids playing in Winchester Baseball

To:

Cc:

Dear Winchester Baseball (WB) BOD's and WPRD officials,

Will someone please respond or at least acknowledge this concern and state that you are working on getting such information that I have requested below.

I am still taken aback that WPRD official(s) told me that I should contact Winchester Baseball myself.  Does not WB operate under the umbrella of WPRD? 

Thank You,
Coach Milburn




On Mon, Dec 28, 2009 at 3:37 PM, wrote:

Dear Bob, Scott, Tammy and Robin,

I am in need of the following information:

- How many kids are playing in Winchester Baseball for the ages of 8-12yrs old?

- How many kids are Winchester City residents
- How many kids are Frederick County residents
- How many kids are Clarke County residents
- How many kids are Warren County residents
- How many kids are Shenandoah County residents
- How many kids are from WV
- And any other counties that may have kids playing in the WB league

Lastly ... how much is the player fee per kid?

I would greatly appreciate your cooperation in providing such information.

Many Thanks!
JEFF MILBURN



---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Michael White
Date: Mon, Dec 28, 2009 at 10:31 AM
Subject: RE: ??? about 2011 10yr old World Series
To:


There was never $$ specifically allocated toward the lights at Bridgeforth in the last 2 years.  Funds were requested to replace the lights in the park’s FY09’ and FY10’ Capital Improvement Project (CIP) budgets.  However, given the economic conditions and the tight budget cycles we’re in, those funds were not approved.  Funds to replace the lights at Bridgeforth were also included in our EECBG grant application ($405k).  We should find out the grant awards very soon.

You’ll need to check with Winchester Baseball on their % of residents from the area localities.  We don’t have that specific information.

Again, you’ll need to check with Winchester Baseball regarding that question.  Saying that, I don’t think it’s fair to ask them to predict the future.  The kids that will play on that team are 8 years old right now.  Who knows what talent may move in or move out of Winchester in the next 2 + years?

At this time, there are no plans to seek financial assistance from surrounding localities to support this event.

The $100k for the lights was included in the presentation made to City Council on 12/22.  If the city is successful in obtaining the grant funding, then the $100k gets deducted from the original request.  If the city is unsuccessful in obtaining the grant, then the $100k light replacement cost is still included in the original request to city council.


Hope that helps.

Mike


Visit http://www.winchesterva.gov/parks to check out our latest activity guide and register online to receive our monthly e-publication ActivitE-News!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From:
Sent: Monday, December 28, 2009 9:18 AM
To:
Cc:
Subject: Re: ??? about 2011 10yr old World Series


Dear Brad Veach and Mike White,

I am looking forward to either one of you answering my questions below.

Need to add a question and they are the following:

- What happened to the $250,000 that was allocated within the last 12-24 months for Bridgeforth Field lights?  The perception is that the lighting is way below safety standards if I recall from the conversations that I have heard from a couple of companies that have came in to review the lighting at Bridgeforth.

- What is the breakdown of the kids playing in the Winchester Baseball league for ages 8-12? 

- How many kids are actually Winchester City residents?
- How many kids are from Frederick County?
- How many kids are from Clarke County?
- How many kids are from Shenandoah County?
- How many kids are from Warren County?
- How many kids are from the state of WV?
- How many City residents' kids out of the 12-15 team members will be on this World Series team?  From years past, the perception has always been that the All-Stars teams are pre-selected because the All-Star coaches are always hitting indoors at the Armory or other venues which allows indoor hitting.
- Will these other counties be assisting with the money that is needed from City to host such event?
- If the $100k grant does not go through, then who will cover that?

Please make note that I will have limited access to my e-mail this week.

Many Thanks and Happy New Year!

JEFF