Laserfiche WebLink
SPECIAL MEETING NOVEMBER 30, 2010 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />stadium is that there is no place for any baseball entertainment other than the field. <br />Minor League Baseball is exploding around the country because of the family affordable <br />entertainment that can go on at the ballpark. The old and tired concourse is dark, dreary <br />and small. There is not even an acceptable place at the Cove for children to play and that <br />is a huge part of family entertainment. The new family picnic area and keeps being <br />mentioned as an adult only area is just not true, and she doesn’t know where that came <br />from. It is simply a tiered picnic area that extends out to the third base foul line. The <br />present picnic area is falling apart, small, and in need of repairs. This new area will have <br />new picnic tables that are made of strong material that will survive for decades. It will <br />also be on the left field side where there will be shade and will open up the area between <br />the team store and the concourse. She stated that they need the old picnic area to create a <br />safe place for the children. She stated the suites are falling apart. Air conditioners do not <br />work, cabinets are falling down, small and outdated in areas. They are having a hard <br />time selling them because they are too small. If you walk into one the ceiling is leaking <br />and the next one the air conditioner is falling out of the wall. The Upper Deck when it <br />was built there was no ventilation put in, so you get smoked out when cooking. The <br />Upper Deck should be the best seats in the house, but the seats are actually dangerous for <br />those trying to sit in them. Some have been removed because they have been totally <br />destroyed. She noted that last week she heard personal attacks on Joe Kernan and his <br />investors, that they are making money off of the citizens and the City, and to let them <br />pay for the repairs if they want them and just who are these investors. She reassured <br />everyone that Joe Kernan nor any investors have made any money off of this investment <br />of saving the team. She reiterated who are they and why does it matter. What needs to <br />be know is that these investors saved a community business, they saved approximately <br />300 jobs, kept the Cove running with more of their own personal dollars because they <br />love this community and they know how important this part of the community is because <br />if the team is gone then there just an empty stadium. She urged the Council to support <br />this full project, with their vision, passion for this community, and the belief that South <br />Bend is a great city with even more potential that where they are now will be in support <br />of these renovations now. <br /> <br />John Abernathy, 59449 Keria Trail, South Bend, Indiana, stated that he attended tonight’s <br />meeting not with the intention of speaking. He stated that he has been following the <br />discussion of the bills before the Council this evening, and stated that there are two sides <br />to every story. He stated that he was born and raised in South Bend and the only time <br />away was to attend college at Indiana University, he has spent his entire life here. He <br />stated that he loves baseball, played at Northside Little League and not much after that. <br />He stated that he has taken his family to the Cove numerous times. His favorite <br />recollection was having his daughter’s birthday party at the Cove with her friends and <br />having her name appear on the scoreboard wishing her a happy birthday. He stated that <br />he now has four grandsons and when he asks them what they want to do for their <br />birthday, they say they want to go to the Cove. So he stated that he is speaking not only <br />as a father or grandfather, or a citizen, but wants to speak tonight as an investor in the <br />Cove. He stated that he first met Joe Kernan at Northside Little League. As being a <br />business man in town he saw the writing on the wall that they were going to lose the <br />South Bend Silverhawks. They were going to go to another city. He stated that Joe came <br />to him as well as other people and said that he had a vision to put together a group of <br />businessmen as investors to save the baseball team and so that Coveleski won’t be <br />vacant. Mr. Abernathy stated that Joe had a proposal and he told him that he did not have <br />a lot of money to put into this. He stated that he took it to his accountant and showed it to <br />him and he asked if he was serious about putting money into this. Mr. Abernathy replied <br />to his accountant that he was not putting money into this project as an investment <br />expecting a return, but putting this money into his community because this community <br />has provided he and his family a nice income and he wanted to make sure that we kept <br />this baseball team here. Each year, the last four years he has taken his tax return back to <br />his accountant and he states every time what are you thinking about with this investment. <br />Mr. Abernathy stated that it is a negative loss every year, and he stands here today as an <br />investor telling the Council that they have not made one penny in the past four years <br />while they are rebuilding. Mr. Abernathy pleaded to the Council to invest in the <br />community like the investors have invested in the Community by keeping the team here. <br />He stated that where the money is to be made is when the investor’s sell to another <br /> 17 <br /> <br />