Voters approve funding for Inter-Lakes athletic field lights

MEREDITH — For the past two years, a group of grandparents in the Inter-Lakes School District have joined forces to bring permanent lighting to the turf athletic field at Inter-Lakes Middle High School. Voters at the school district meeting Wednesday approved the project, to help pay for it to become a reality.

"Students only get a few short years here, and their time on campus is perishable,” said Bruce Jones, chair of the Inter-Lakes Grandparents Club. “By acting now, the community is opening thousands of additional hours of field time for students, school programs, and community use over the next 25 years.”

The vote was close, and it took some convincing during a debate that went for about a half-hour.

Article 6 asked for the town to approve raising and appropriating $359,000 for field lighting at the Charles G. Burrows Memorial Athletic Field, with $181,920 to come from donated funds. The school board was split 3-3 to recommend the article.

School board Chair Charley Hanson, of Center Harbor, immediately made an amendment to the article, reflecting additional donations, including a check for $25,000 from the widow and daughter of the late Kevin Keenan of the Grandparents Club. The amendment increased the amount already raised to $226,163.

“Kevin Keenan passed away back in January,” Hanson said. “Kevin attended Inter-Lakes, and no offense to the other grandfathers, but he was probably the most passionate one about this whole project.”

The amended number meant the amount to be raised by taxes was $132,837.

A question was asked about the immediacy of the project, and why the district can't wait until the Grandparents Club is able to raise the full amount needed.

Hanson said the district told the Grandparents Club early on they needed to raise the funds, because the district didn’t have the ability to include lighting in the budget. The group has been excited about getting permanent lighting for the student athletes, as well as other activities and events at night. Hanson said they opted to include it on the warrant for voters to decide.

“Someone walks in tomorrow and gives us a check for 100 grand, great, it will only be $30,000,” Hanson said.

Jim McFarland, of Meredith, congratulated the Grandparents Club on their work to raise the money they had. He said he has done quite a bit of fundraising, and thinks it is important to continue fundraising, rather than taxpayers footing the bill.

“I would urge the grandfathers to keep up the good fight, continue to fundraise,” McFarland said. “That would be my input, that they continue to raise the funds, and that they will be able to do so in a matter of a year, two years, or three years. I don’t want to hear the argument that the cost of the project will double in three years. I don’t see that happening.”

McFarland said while he did not offer his support to the Grandparents Club initially, he would now do so, to help them raise the additional funds.

“I don’t think the taxpayers should be asked to spend that money in this project now,” McFarland said.

Jones said it is not in the budget, and is a one-time, one-year levy. It has also been reduced so for the average home valued at $500,000 in the district, it is a one-time ask of $11, billed in two parts.

“So, in June, we will ask you for $5.50, and in January, we will ask you for $5.50,” Jones said. “And then we will never talk about lights again.”

Jones addressed the urgency, saying he just watched a video of Steve Jobs in 1983, where he explained why Apple computer should be in all classrooms. He said the kids can’t wait, and this relates to this scenario, as well.

“If you want the Class of 2027 to enjoy a Homecoming with lights, we need to vote ‘yes’ tonight,” Jones said.

Jones said with a "yes" vote, the board of the Grandparents Club has queued up a contract with Musco Lighting to get the process started. However, if it were voted down, this would all have to wait until the funds came in, most likely delaying it several years. So far it has taken about a year to raise every $100,000, so at that rate, it wouldn’t be until the Class of 2029 for students to see lights.

“The kids can’t wait,” Jones said. “We’re not asking for that much. It’s a one-time purchase. I can’t wait to enjoy the lights with all of you.”

Richard Gerken, of Meredith, said he and his wife Carol have been involved in many projects in town over the past 25 years, raising significant funds from private and third parties. While he likes the idea, as he is a former high school and college athlete himself, Gerken felt the methodology was premature, and this could have been done without additional taxation.

“You’ve done a great job, grandparents, but you’ve got to finish the job,” Gerken said.

The football team will be benefiting directly from the new lights, and Coach Guy Donnelly thanked the Grandparents Club for taking on the endeavor. While some say this is a “want and not a need,” Donnelly said the turf field is an extension of the classroom. He noted there are programs beyond sports that can use it.

“I think it is important to point out that our community has raised more than $226,000 for lights, more than any venture we’ve had over 20 years,” Donnelly said.

The article passed by a close card vote. Donnelly made a motion to restrict reconsidering the article that evening, which also passed.

Jones said after the meeting this was a huge win for student athletes, fans, and the entire Laker community. He said over the last two decades, there have been several efforts to bring lights to the field, but they always fell short. This time, the goal was to bring the community together to complete the mission at had.

Jones is grateful for the donors who stepped forward, as well as the taxpayers who supported the investment, and the school board, staff and Superintendent Mary Moriarty for their guidance.

“Everyone recognized that if we were going to do it, we should do it now, so today’s students can benefit,” Jones said. “We believe these lights will strengthen education, community life, and opportunity for many years to come. The Inter-Lakes Grandparents Club was created to support projects like this, and we welcome anyone who would like to join us in helping the district.”