Thursday, April 23, 2009

VERO BEACH — Minor League Baseball executives expect to occupy Dodgertown by June 1 if they can get an agreement with county officials approved by then.

“They want to occupy Dodgertown as soon as possible and we want them there,” County Administrator Joe Baird said Thursday.

At this point, the two sides’ attorneys are poring through the proposed agreement.

“And that takes on a life of its own,” MiLB President Pat O’Conner said.

Neither Baird nor O’Conner envisioned anything holding up the deal. And at least the county won’t have to spruce up the grounds before MiLB moves in, Baird said. (more…)

MARTIN COUNTY — Is this the right time to build a $9.7 million swimming pool complex on Willoughby Boulevard?

Martin County commissioners wrestled with the answer on Tuesday after listening to a glowing report from David Weller, a father of a competitive swimmer, on the potential of the complex that would combine a recreational pool area with a competition pool.

They also heard from Jim Sherman, assistant county administrator, who said the county could recoup about 80 percent of the cost of running the pool each year, based on an estimated cost of $756,000 annually, but this figure was questioned as being too optimistic.

Commissioner Edward Ciampi, a champion of the pool that would be built with the ½-cent sales tax money already earmarked for this purpose, said this was the time to move forward with the pool facility because construction firms could come in with competitive bids.

But Commission Chairman Susan L. Valliere stood firm.

“I think this is a wonderful project. I just think the timing is wrong,” said Valliere. “We are looking at pay cuts, we are laying off some of our people, there is 10 percent unemployment and climbing. This pool is luxurious and these are not luxurious times.”

Valliere was the only dissenter when the commission voted to approve the conceptual plan for the aquatic complex, and a design-build proposal. Sherman said that once this proposal was in, it would help solidify the cost of the complex.

However, the The commission also directed Sherman to request that the design-build company reduce its fee up to 25 percent.
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JUPITER ISLAND — Although the Town of Jupiter Island is not enforcing a year-old set of regulations for Hobe Sound Beach, which is owned by Martin County, a surfing organization is considering a legal challenge.

Among the rules not currently enforced that the Surfrider Foundation of the Treasure Coasts wants to see rescinded altogether: closing the beach at night.

“Whether they enforce it or not, in our eyes, we just want it removed so it doesn’t become a problem in the future,” said Kevin Murray, of the Treasure Coast Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation. “It’s important to us to go there with out families. We want to surf at night. The fishermen are going to naturally get involved because they want to fish at night.”

But Chief Ted Gonzales, Jupiter Island’s public safety director, said the town commissioners are happy that increased patrols at the beach have largely put an end to the vandalism and trespassing on nearby properties that prompted the commissioners to pass the beach rules. (more…)

ST. LUCIE COUNTY — Tourism leaders from Grand Bahama Island will meet with local officials this week and get a first-hand feel for St. Lucie County in an effort to build a business and tourism partnership.

Grand Bahamian and St. Lucie County officials hope the visit, which will include tours of Fort Pierce and Port St. Lucie, will help solidify a non-binding agreement the two groups entered into in December with the goal of boosting tourism in both locations. One of the main ideas behind the agreement is to work together to market both areas, such as offering vacation packages between the two locations. (more…)

VERO BEACH — The possibility of major league baseball players returning to Dodgertown this spring in the form of a free-agent camp is something Indian River County officials say they will pursue.

The Los Angeles Times is reporting the players’ union is expected to decide within a week whether to organize a spring training camp of its own for free agent players, with Dodgertown one of the sites under consideration. There are reportedly about 70 players that remain unsigned and are considered free agents.

Local officials have asked for assistance from Major League Baseball and talked with MLB executive Pat O’Conner about the use of the field, but they say they have not talked with union officials about having free agents train there. Union officials could not be reached for comment.

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Marlins pitcher Scott Proctor (left), plays with his 3-year-old daughter, Mary Elizabeth, and wife, Carrie. Photo by Sarah Grile

JENSEN BEACH — There’s no disputing Scott Proctor’s passion for baseball. After a tough loss, the new Marlins reliever once burned his glove on the dugout steps at Yankee Stadium — “a sacrifice to the baseball gods,” he explained.

Proctor persuaded his wife to name their first child,  5-year-old Camden, after Baltimore’s baseball yard.

Their youngest, 18-month-old Cooper, got his name from the New York town that’s home to the Hall of Fame.

“It helped me understand what really matters,’’ he said. (more…)