This levy would cost the owner of a home with a $100,000 value $70.35 annually, according to the Miami County Auditor’s Office.
Troy City Council was approached with the proposal by the new Operation Recreation Committee, made up of representatives of a number of organizations providing recreation.
Those organizations are: Troy Junior Baseball, Midwest Ohio Baseball, Troy Christian High School, Troy High School Softball, Troy Post 43 and Troy TL Boosters Inc., Troy Soccer Club, Troy Senior Citizens Center, Miami Shores Golf Course and Junior Trojans Baseball.
“Everybody knocks on the same doors for private money, so if you do it at one time, it makes it a lot more palatable for folks to see the long-range vision,” said Bobby Phillips of the Operation Recreation Committee and a member of the Troy City Council.
The bulk of the money would be used for new baseball fields at the north end of Duke Park on the Huelskamp Farm property bought by the city last year. The other projects include more soccer fields at Duke Park, and improvements to Miami Shores Golf Course and the Senior Citizens Center. The golf course improvements include clubhouse updates and a new driving range.
“We have a very philanthropic community that has given and given and given to the point that we as residents need to take ownership and contribute back and not expect these philanthropic friends to continue to fund all of our needs,” Phillips said.
The baseball fields would replace fields at the Knoop Complex at County Road 25A and Eldean Road now used by the Troy Junior Baseball organization. The fields are prone to flooding from the adjacent Great Miami River. Floods have shortened the Junior Baseball season two of the past three seasons.
The effort to raise private dollars has not started. Phillips said some major potential donors approached said they first wanted to see the vote on the tax proposal.
Should the private fund raising effort fall short, the Operation Recreation Committee has recommended a project priority list with top priority going to the baseball fields.
There is no organized opposition to the levy.
Mayor Mike Beamish said that he supports the proposal as part of the city’s efforts to enhance recreation offerings. During the past few years, the city has undertaken the multi-million dollar riverfront redevelopment project that included a renovated Treasure Island Marina, the Treasure Island Park and an expansion/renovation now under way at Hobart Arena.
Contact this contributing writer at nancykburr@aol.com
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