North Canton Could Start Charging Non-League Teams for Use of Ball Fields

Non-league teams that use North Canton ball fields in the future may have to start paying or stop playing.

North Canton City Council continued its discussion about charging non-league teams at its meeting Monday night. Their main concern is the cost to keep the ball field lights on, said Clerk of Council Gail Kalpac, who talked to North Canton Patch this morning.

She said keeping the lights on for about four hours costs somewhere near $80, and the city wants to make sure it can cover its costs.

“They hope to have exact figures on the lights situation at the ball fields at the next meeting,” Kalpac said, adding it would be the third and final reading for the ordinance.

Price Park, Dogwood Park, the Knights of Columbus, Clearmount and Witwer ball fields would be affected by the rental rates.

Also scheduled to receive its third reading at next week’s meeting is the ordinance that would establish an open burning permit fee. That fee, which council members said might be $10, would cover the cost of having a fire inspector come out to each site before an open burn takes place.

Council also approved changes to the ordinance for billing and collection of water fees to make it easier for the city to collect unpaid water bills from those in rental properties.

Kalpac said the announcement that Eric Bowles, the city’s economic development director, also will take on the role of zoning inspector at no additional pay was made Monday night.

Council will meet at 7 p.m. Monday in North Canton City Hall.