WM working on deal with Classic organizer

WM working on deal with Classic organizer

Albright, Parks Department hope contract will avert last year’s snafus

news@theeveningtimes.com

With funding in hand to promote the 2017 Southland Classic softball tournament, event organizer Clint Albright set out from the January Advertising and Promotion Commission and the Convention and Visitors Bureau to do business with another city department.

Albright needs to consummate a contract with the Parks and Recreation Department for the June 17, 18 round robin; something the two parties failed to accomplish last year. The competition proceeded anyway. Miscommunication, misunderstandings and misinformation compounded producing missed expectations and one miffed mayor.

Championship games wound up in Marion. Albright felt he had the latitude to place the Sunday games at Marion in response to preferences teams

expressed on Saturday.

“The Marion fields are newer,” said Albright. “The teams prefer to play on the better fields which are, in all honesty, in Marion. It’s a newer complex.”

The Sunday games at Marion proved to be a surprise to both city grounds crews.

West Memphis Bill Johnson voiced his displeasure at seeding the tournament with advertising and promotion money for a trophy round ultimately played in Marion.

Albright plans a new tack this year to spell out expectations with a contract to use the Marion Rose Sports Complex in Tilden Rodgers Park. Since lack of communication seemed to spawn all the commotion last year, Albright planned for an additional avenue of communication.

“There were contractual problems last time so no one was clear,” said Councilwoman Ramona Taylor.

“Do you have all that fixed?”

Albright sees the way through Parks Commissioner Darin McCollum.

That commission is comprised of Lorenzo Parker the department director, City Councilman James Holt and citizen volunteers like McCollum.

“We’re going to work with your parks commission this year,” said Albright.

“Darin, he and I have had some discussions and I’ll work through him. We’ll make sure all that is in good fashion, everybody will be completely clear on the dates and the field usage’s.”

McCollum acknowledged Albright tried contacting him while in town for the A& P funding decision, but insisted the authority to contract the city park facility rests with Parks Director Lorenzo Parker.

“He called me today,” said McCollum. “I am a volunteer. I will not overstep Lorenzo’s position and authority to contract. I may be a go between, another avenue of communication between the two of them. I’ll make sure everyone is on the same page, but I won’t be making any decisions for the parks. Lorenzo has the final say as parks director.”

Back in the A& P meeting, venues were discussed. Albright pointed out that tournament expansion would necessitate using ball fields in both Marion and West Memphis. The promoter announced plans for the new women’s competition to play at the sports complex in Marion.

Women like to swing for the fences and the Marion field is ideal according to Albright.

West Memphis Mayor Bill Johnson and City Treasurer each took a swing at landing the women’s tourney at Tilden Rodgers. Over the years Albright had insisted on facility and field improvements that now total in the six figures. Playing fields had been re-leveled to laser beam precision in response to feed back from Albright. Improvements to concrete were requested.

The city just bought temporary

short fences to accommodate

women and girls

tournaments.

“I think every effort needs to be made for the finals to be played in West Memphis,” said Johnson. “I don’t see why that can’t be worked out.”

“The only problem is the women’s field is in Marion,” said Albright.

“You do know we now have removable fencing for women’s use,” said City Treasurer Frank Martin.

Albright immediately dismissed the idea of the Woman’s final in West Memphis, determined for the Marion venue.

“I did not know you had temporary fences,” said Albright. “The set up fences: There’s a little danger because they fall over, not as ideal.”

Ultimately the A& P commission understood that the big number of preliminary games necessitated play in both cities. And with four championship groups and a smaller field, that Marion would be hosting the women’s final.

Johnson settled for three of the four finals set for the Wonder City, an improvement over last years in his eyes.

“That is progress I guess,” said the Mayor.

But, Johnson remained miffed with the recalcitrant Albright and felt disappointment right down to the parting words muttered aloud after winning funding approval.

“I was really disappointed with what he said when he left,” said Johnson. “You heard what he said, ‘Come on, let’s just get out of here.’”

By John Rech