Palmetto NRALL ball fields stolen by county and city officials.

[Concerned Parent]

Frustration levels soar with the lack of concern for our promised Little league and Softball fields. Last year, our county sold the North River American Little League fields to the school board for a whopping 1.6 million dollars price tag. This effort was finally taken for the long overdue and much needed relocation of Palmetto Elementary. With the purchase of the land community leaders not only guaranteed to relocate the ball fields but to also do it in a timely manner for the start of the new season. However, many changes have occurred since the original promise, giving NRALL the run around. In fact, the last update gave NRALL the devistating news that instead of building the fields with money that was already allocated, they have decided to now use these monies for another project. This project is to build a road that supports a developer's needs more than our own children. I understand that this road change seems to be useful for the ball fields as well, but why build it first, at the expense of our children?
Many families whom participate in NRALL are working class families who depend on this resource in THIER community. Children in NRALL's district should be afforded the same opportunities for recreation and community such as those ball fields at Buffalo Creek, GT Bray and Lakewood Ranch. One may ask why not just attend one of those parks to play ball? The reasons for not doing so is time and money. As previously stated, many families whom participate in NRALL are working class families. Adding additional driving time and additional charges for gas and enrollement fees (NRALL's are the lowest in the county) is unreasonable, especially in this economy. One may also ask why we should be worrying about ball fields at all in this economy? The answer is what or who better to invest in than our own children, the future of our community! The ball fields offer an opportunity to keep children off of the streets while providing an outlet for energy; creating healthier better focused children.
After the debacle surrounding the relocation of Palmetto Elementary, one would think the county and city have developed a sensitivity to the needs north of the river. The act of moving funds to support development while "hoping" for grant money for the children proves where the concern of our elected and appointed officials lay.
Since when is it okay to steal candy from a baby? In short that is what the county and city are doing to the children of Palmetto right now. This also gives the impression that the children are not worth our time or money, adding insult to injury. I find the leaders in our community setting a poor example for our children!
Concerned Parent

[Little League dad]

This is what happens when you trust politicians.

I sat in on a city council meeting last year about this proposed land swap - Larry Bustle was the mayor, Chris Lukowiak, the city works director. At that time both men were candidates - bustle for county commish, lukowiak for mayor of palmetto - for office and the election was just days away. In my opinion, these two men pushed these plans forward so they would be more attractive to voters. "hey look, i can work with several different municipalities and get deals done....."

As a member of the Varnadore family said at the meeting, "why is the city of palmetto getting involved in the building of a school, isn't that what the school district is for????

so, the little league, trying to be the good neighbor said sure, take our fields, build the new school......Bustle and Lukowiak both told league officials we would have our fields by spring 2010 at the LATEST.......well guess what, bustle won his election and lukowiak did not. So now, the new regime is saying, we didn't promise anything......

I have been volunteering my time to the little league for almost 10 years. It is a labor of love since my kids and their friends all play in the league. NRALL's president and the other officers should be commended for their work, instead some palmetto officials are unfairly badmouthing them. WE JUST WANT WHAT WE WERE PROMISED BY THE CITY AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT....

that's what NRALL gets for trusting politicians especially in this good old boy network that is manatee county. and the kids are the ones who suffer....

[Mag]

Little league has hired This Lukowiak guy as their consultant now! Thought he had all parties working it all out before the election. Sure he did.....
They must not be so smart after all.