THE SPECTATOR: BURTON FRIENDS & NEIGHBORS
Over one million dollars! That’s how much the non-profit organization Burton Friends and Neighbors has put back into the City-owned ballpark and the community of Burton. Over one million dollars in donations have been spent on those fields, along with scholarships for kids for Little League and college, and on other Burton community projects. I didn’t hear or read anything about that at the last Burton City Council meeting. Perhaps the Burton mayor and council members have forgotten that the land for the park was donated to the City 20 years ago. Maybe they don’t know that the only thing asked of the City in a “gentleman’s agreement” was to pay for the water. Burton Friends and Neighbors have done everything for that park, even paying for the electricity. Their annual fundraiser has continued to raise money for park improvements, including current plans for building covers over the bleachers and adding LED lighting for the fields. It just seems to me that a “Thank you” was probably more in order at that council meeting instead of threats to make the non-profit start paying for water…which again is the only contribution from the City of Burton. Oh, did I mention that the water cost over the past 20 years is just $23,000? The Burton Friends and Neighbors are an organization that every small town would be thrilled to have raising money for their community. To be honest, the organization is made up of most of the community, except for, it sounds like, the Burton City Council.
And that’s the way it looks to this Spectator.
As a resident of Burton, I pay a water bill each month as do 3 churches in town, as well as the Bridge of which all four are non-profit organizations. Our School also pays a water bill and is a non-profit. The City is a non profit organization with a responsibility to provide resources to all in the city. There is a possibilty that all our water rates will rise, mostly due to repairs to our water system. The Burton Friends and Neighbors say they are not-profit, yes they have done a lot for the Park, yet they charge for use of the facilities. One of our Churches has paid around $100.00 for the 3-4 hour use of the facilities for their annual picnic. It should be noted that before the Park facility installed the new turf, at times they were the largest user of our water system. Should we all pay higher bills? As a good citizen of Burton, we should all do our part.
Chuck, the City of Brenham also charges fees for use of their park facilities. I’m sure if the City of Burton had built and maintained those park facilities they would be charging too. You seemed to have missed the point that without Burton Friend and Neighbors, there would be no facility to rent…and the park would just be a vacant lot.
Amen. And to all residents of Washington county, be sure to purchase the groups fund raising BBQ dinners every time, and buy extra and share with your friends. Baseball is the all American sport and one of the safest. They should not have to pay a water bill. How about starting a water well fund for the baseball field?
Thank you! You said what most of the Burton community is thinking. The park has brought so much to Burton and a lot of people work hard to make it a beautiful, safe place for our kids and families! Maybe the city council members should go to park sometimes and see what it brings to the city! Children and families are what makes a community great!
“Don’t bite the hand that has been
feeding you.” Thanks for shedding the true light Spectator. Now the council has to eat crow.