By KELSEY UNRUH

Staff writer

USD 410 school board members had more questions than answers as they deferred action on a long-term agreement with the city for use of the Hillsboro Sports Complex.

“As we put this together a long time ago, it was a gentleman’s agreement,” superintendent Max Heinrichs said. “The only thing that’s really changed is that we are going to put this annual fee in for the sum of $1,000 for memorial field, $1,000 for softball, and $2,250 for tennis courts effective as of July 1.”

The contract, Heinrichs said, would span seven years. Board member Rod Koons questioned the length of the contract.

“I don’t’ understand why they’d want a seven-year-agreement,” Koons said. “To me that seems weird that it wouldn’t be a one-year revolve or a two-year revolve.”

Henrichs said when he ran it by city administrator Larry Paine, he said the city was going to approve it as well, but “if you’d rather go with something other than seven years that’s understandable, too.”

Another issue brought up was who is responsible for the upkeep of the facilities since they were being rented.

“That’s all on them,” Heinrichs said.

“Hence forth why you don’t see much happen,” Koons said. “There, I said it.”

The board discussed the features they felt needed to be upgraded, which included parking lots and bleachers, to which Heinrichs said he would talk to Paine about the possibility of walking around the facilities to see what needed work.

The contract was tabled for the next board meeting Dec. 12.

In other business:

• The board approved a new credit card user agreement to better suit faculty who use it. “We had people using the card that the old language didn’t allow to use,” Heinrichs said, “so we changed that.”
• The board approved Heinrichs to receive bids for an activity bus. “I want to make sure you understand we will own this bus for 18 to 20 years,” Heinrichs said. “It’s like our gymnasium. It’s how people see us.”