Published: February 10, 2009 12:20 am      

ROYALTON: Baseball, softball league asks town for more funding

ROYALTON — Village of Middleport Recreation League has grown, enough to be on its own; but the newly named Roy-Hart Youth Baseball Softball League requested more help from the town at Monday night’s Royalton Town Board meeting.

The village has upped its annual contribution to $3,000 from $2,100, according to Middleport Mayor Julie A. Maedl. Tom Brigham Jr., league treasurer, and Sara Fry, league secretary, requested the town increase the allotment to $3,500 from $2,100 because the cost of running the league is rising every year.

“We’re not criticizing anyone for the amounts that they give,” Fry said. “We’re just pleading our case that the cost of running the league has gone up. We would like some additional funding. We have not asked for more money. We have just gone with fundraisers and stuff, but now it’s getting to the point where we are cutting our budget very close.”

Town board members were puzzled, but said they would look into the matter. “We’ll see if there’s any way it can help,” Councilwoman Jennifer Bieber said.

About 300 boys and girls play in the league, and about 200 are from the Town of Royalton. Games are played at the Hartland Town Park on Route 104. Veteran’s Park and Ravine Park are used primarily for practice.

The league learned in January that the Village of Middleport would no longer pay the insurance premium of about $1,000. However, Maedl said the village covered most of the cost of the insurance with the increased allotment to $3,000.

“We just signed contracts to turn the league over to them,” Maedl explained. “Cutting the apron strings will make it easier for them. They won’t have us as middleman. Now they can run their own program. It’s been a phenomenal program and it will work better if they run it themselves.”

Middleport started its recreation league several years ago, solely with children from the village. However, it got to point the league was not getting enough help from volunteers and not enough kids to fill the program. There were not enough diamonds.

The towns of Royalton and Hartland were invited. The league grew, but Middleport was still the lead agent, controlling the finances and doing paperwork.

“Over the years, it’s become cumbersome,” said Maedl. “Let them go on their own. It’s important it is to keep the program going. It’s near and dear to my heart. The group has done an outstanding job keeping league going.”

The mayor’s children played in the recreation league, and Heather and Richard now coach the minor girls.

Not all the league’s funds come from the village and the town. There are fundraisers and registration fees: $25 for T-ball and $40 for children over 7.

Insurance costs don’t have to be $1,800, according to the mayor. The basic liability insurance premium is about $1,000. However, the insurer suggested secondary insurance with an $800 premium.

Maedl noted that parents have to show health insurance when children are registered. The league has never had secondary insurance.

“They’ll give us what they’re going to give us. Hopefully they will give us some more next year,” Brigham said.

Contact reporter Bill Wolcott at 439-9222, ext. 6246.