Pickleball organization's request for financial support splits Pine City Council vote

A request made by the Pine City Area Pickleball organization for financial support from the city to move forward with testing the viability of the proposed site of six courts failed in a split 2-2 vote at last week's meeting.

According to city administrator Marcy Peterson, a topographic survey is estimated at $3,000, with soil boring coming at an $8,000 cost.

Both evaluations would be conducted during the summer.

If the testing results prove compatibility for the proposed courts, the next phase would include engineering designs, which are anticipated to cost $18,000.

"Where they're at now is finding out if the soil is compatible for this project," Peterson explained. "They're at a standstill until they know that's able to move forward, and then they'd go on to the engineering drawings."

Council member Kyle Palmer said when PCAP first presented the proposal, the organization only sought a site at Westside Park for the courts, along with grass cutting and garbage removal services.

"They were going to fundraise for everything else," Palmer said. "And in my mind, if you need a soil boring test, then you should probably be planning for that and putting it into your fundraising event. The other concern I have is that we're not going out to every organization that's out there and putting in development for those organizations."

Council member Dave Hill added that he'd have preferred a request to put the funding into the city's budget cycle for next year.

"I'm not saying it would pass, but I'm definitely not going to vote for it at the spur of the moment," Hill said. "We don't have the money in the budget for it."

Council member Gina Pettie expressed her opinion that because the city owns the land, a soil boring test would prove to be mutually beneficial.

"If we have that sample, then we could move forward with something else if pickleball didn't work out," Pettie said. "So I see it a little differently, like I don't see it quite as a donation, but us taking care of our property and, you know, kind of meeting them halfway."

Pettie also added that the testing would be a "bargain" for the city if the evaluations' cost were split with PCAP.

"And if it turns out to be contaminated soil that we have to put a million dollars into to remediate, that could be a bad thing too," Palmer said.

Mayor Kent Bombard said he wasn't opposed to covering half of the expense, considering funds incoming from the sale of the 315 Main Street property could help cover the cost.

"I kind of also fall on the side of it's our land, maybe we should know what's underneath there," Bombard added.

Hill also shared concerns that the studies would reveal the need for pilings or other technology for the property to be viable.

"If you approve this, you're going to have to approve every request going forward for the next organization that comes in and says they want tests and assistance," Palmer said. "And, who knows? Pickleball might come back and say that they want engineering support. Where are you going to draw the line?"

A motion made by Pettie for the city to contribute half of the funding for the soil boring and topography evaluation failed in a split 2-2 vote, with Palmer and Hill voting no, and Pettie and Bombard voting yes.

Council member Dan Swanson was not present at the meeting.

Rendering from Pine City Area Pickleball proposal presentation