CF Baseball Association's future could be in jeopardy

By JOE SOVA / Hungry Horse News

There is no question that the Columbia Falls Baseball Association's future could be in jeopardy.

A meeting was held last Thursday night at the Pin and Cue in Whitefish to discuss a change in the 100-year lease the Association has for use of state land adjacent to the Montana Veterans' Home.

The trust land is managed by the State of Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, commonly known as DNRC. Anne Shaw Moran, Kalispell Unit Planner with DNRC, attended the meeting to explain the situation.

Through last year, CFBA had been paying a $100 per year lease fee for use of the land, which is on the north edge of the Veterans' Home property, bordered by Talbott Road. The Association was recently notified that the cost of the annual lease fee would rise dramatically — to $3,500 — starting in 2008.

So covering the $3,400 increase leaves a dilemma for CFBA.

"We're a little stymied," Moran said during the meeting, explaining that the lease is for state trust land. "It was set aside when Montana became a state to raise money for schools. We're (DNRC) managing that land for beneficiaries in Montana. We're charging a derivative of market value."

According to Moran, the money collected on the lease goes to the Veterans' Home rather than into general State coffers.

CFBA is nonprofit, but Moran said that the State cannot make an exception on the lease fee amount. She said the increase was due to a "phased-in" increase, based on land value — not including the improvements that CFBA has made on the property.

"If we manage it differently we go against (DNRC) policies," Moran explained. "We're not doing it right on our end the way its managed."

Moran did say that the $3,500 collected from CFBA would go to the Veterans' Home. An option would be for the State facility to give it back to the Association as a donation. Then it would be a wash and the problem would be solved. But that is only an option, not a positive solution to the situation.

Ray Queen is president of the Glacier League, which uses Sapa-Johnsrud Memorial Babe Ruth Field each year at the CFBA complex, which includes three fields.

"They've already given a year's grace," Queen said of DNRC raising the lease cost.

Moran said she would go back to Mike Sullivan, Real Estate Management Section Supervisor for the State of Montana, to talk about options pertaining to the lease.

Other State-owned land near the Veterans' Home is leased for hay production, and Moran was asked if the Home receives money from that lease. Moran said she would look into that question and provide an answer.

Moran said that state lands that are open to public use, such as state parks, are under different guidelines and regulations than those used for business or nonprofit purposes.

Former CFBA President Jack Therrien then asked Moran if the baseball complex — which is just outside the Columbia Falls city limits — could become a state park. Moran said she would look into that query.

Also part of Thursday's meeting was discussion of planned improvements to the CFBA complex, including a new concession stand, restrooms and a batting cage.

Upwards of $30,000 has been put into the CFBA complex in improvements since the mid-1980s, including lighting of Sapa-Johnsrud Memorial Field, bleachers and the construction of a concession stand/restroom building.

The complex is being used by teams in the minor, pee wee and Babe Ruth divisions. The Glacier Twins American Legion program uses Sapa-Johnsrud Memorial Field for practice early in the season. In past years, a Twins B team has used the field for games.

Queen said that northern Flathead County is hosting two Babe Ruth state tournaments in 2008.

"We want to improve the facility to host a first-class tournament," Queen said.

All improvements must go through DNRC for approval.

"We want to see restrooms out there," Moran said.

Games at the complex have been popular with a number of Montana Veterans' Home residents each year.

"I'd like to salute these veterans on an everyday basis," Queen said.

"We've always catered to the vets," said Dick Lundstrom, a former league officer and coach who spent countless hours donating his time to developing the CFBA complex.

Note: More information about CFBA improvements and local baseball sign-ups will follow in the Hungry Horse News.