Irwin ballfield fee hikes has some crying foul

Irwin Borough’s plan to double the fees for use of ballfields at its two community parks had several representatives from a youth sports group crying foul last week.

Council plans consider changing the fee structure from $10 to $20 per session for use of the ballfields at Irwin Park and Penglyn Park. The issue is likely to be discussed at council’s Jan. 31 workshop meeting and its February regular meeting.

Councilman Mike Yunn suggested council consider a resolution to keep the fees at the 2022 level. He said he hopes the borough council would “hit the pause button (on increasing fees) until next year.”

Councilman Shawn Stitely said he believes there has to be some sort of increase in the fees to offset rising maintenance costs.

Borough officials have discussed the proposal with representatives from the Norwin Community Athletic Association, which uses the ballfields more than any other group, council President Rick Burdelski said.

Mike Kugler, president of the sports association, said that the group’s costs for using the Irwin fields will increase from $6,450 in 2022 to $12,900 this year if the proposal is passed.

Kugler said that about 300 youngsters who play spring baseball and 150 who play in the fall — plus about 400 who play flag football — would be impacted by the cost hikes.

Councilwoman Leslie Savage said that the fees have not been increased since 2018 and money raised by the increase would help pay for supplies needed to maintain the fields.

Several representatives from the sports association reminded council members that they maintain the fields and spend money to do it. They said the increase in field fees could make it too costly for some families because of a potential increase in player registration fees.

Meg Yunn, whose husband, Mike, is on council, pointed out at the sports association is the borough’s No. 1 customer in terms of usage and council members “blindsided them by a 100% increase” in the field usage fees.

Tom Hussey, former president of the sports association, blamed the matter on “a lack of communication” between council and the athletic association.

Shari Martino, borough manager, said Friday she had been requested by borough officials to learn the fee structure for ballfields at other municipalities, and she contacted Greensburg, Hempfield, Murrysville, North Huntingdon and Trafford to learn the rates charged by those communities.

Martino said that letters were sent in mid-December to the organizations that typically rent the ballfields asking them to reply by Jan. 31 to reserve dates for the fields.