City Council Meeting Date: September 23, 2025
To: Mayor and City Council
City Administrator
From: Andrew Tussing, Streets and Parks Manager
Title
Consideration Resolution Accepting Donation for Field Improvements to Sechler Park Baseball Fields.
Body
Action Requested:
The Northfield City Council approves accepting a donation from Metro Baseball League for field maintenance at Sechler Park.
Note: requires 2/3 majority approval per State Statute 465.03.
Summary Report:
The Northfield Youth Baseball Association applied for a donation from Metro Baseball League to complete planned field maintenance on the youth baseball fields at Sechler Park.
NYBA and staff have worked together on identifying upcoming maintenance items to be completed at the park. NYBA was made aware of the Metro Baseball League charitable donation; they applied for the donation and were awarded $36,500.00 towards the field maintenance. In kind, the City will cover the remainder of the field maintenance totaling $12,500.00.
2024 Minnesota Statutes
465.03 GIFTS TO MUNICIPALITIES.
Any city, county, school district or town may accept a grant or devise of real or personal property and maintain such property for the benefit of its citizens in accordance with the terms prescribed by the donor. Nothing herein shall authorize such acceptance or use for religious or sectarian purposes. Every such acceptance shall be by resolution of the governing body adopted by a two-thirds majority of its members, expressing such terms in full.
Maintenance items will include:
Wells Fargo Field and Post Consumer Brands Field:
-Removal of pitching mound and installation of pad for synthetic mound
-Add and laser grade ag lime to entire basepath area
-Edge entire infield and basepath area
-Resod around perimeter of plate and pitching area
-Reset all base anchors
Alternative Options:
N/A
Financial Impacts:
$12,500.00 will be covered out of the City’s athletic field maintenance budget line.
Tentative Timelines:
Fall 2025