A baseball field in the Williston-Elko school district fielded a debate, not grounders, during the Jan. 19 Williston school board meeting.

On deck that night was the fencing of the new baseball field, which is part of the incomplete sports complex for the district. The complex includes a softball field.

A motion was made by board member Tommy Boyleston to allocate $39,100 to fence in the field.

The motion passed, but not before much debate. Board member Alan Mulligan raised objections to spending this amount of money on athletic facilities when there are classrooms and school buildings in dire need of repair, he said.

"Mrs. Clamp, what is wrong with the baseball field now?" he said.

Clamp said there was a group of students, staff and citizens who would like to complete the work started on the baseball field at the complex.

Mulligan also disputed where the money was going to come from to pay for the fencing.

During its Oct. 20, 2009 meeting, the school board authorized a $320,000 general obligation bond for re-roofing the middle school, which has been in need of repair. A bid for the roofing project was accepted at $198,849 during that same meeting.

It was suggested that leftover money from that bond could be used for the baseball field fencing.

Board member Calvin Melton said since the general obligation bond money had been earmarked for district physical repairs, then the money could be taken from the general fund to finance the fencing.

"If approved, that would be how I would recommend we fund this," he said.

"What's the rush? The field is there - it's not going anywhere," said board member Doris Young. "I'm about education. Sports are fine, but I'm for education. Let's round it off to $40,000. I see it used somewhere else."

Melton said baseball season is approaching and the team starts practice next month.

The field in question was planted with grass last year and all the sprinklers are in place. However, the field doesn't have lights yet, he said.

Melton said if the fencing is done, then a community group would raise an additional $40,000 to move the lights from the existing field to the one at the sports complex. They would also build a concession stand and install restrooms.

Mulligan said any spare money the district has should be spent on repairing school facilities, not athletics, noting that a maintenance man fell through some flooring in the district building recently.

Mulligan also said that many classrooms with carpet need repairs as well.

"I'm 100 percent for sports, but we need to do repairs. We do have a usable baseball field with lights," he said.

Board member Ronnie Brown suggested faculty and staff create a list of needed repairs within the district and prioritize these repairs.

"I would like to see these areas targeted too. I would like to see teachers make a list of what needs repairing," he said.

However, Brown said he would like to see the other baseball field used.

"I see a field there and we are not using it," he said.

Mulligan also raised the question as to whether the district has a clear title to the land on which the baseball field is situated.

Melton said the parcel of land in question is behind the baseball field and not the field itself.

The motion for funding the fencing was passed, with Melton, Brown and Boyleston voting for it and Young and Mulligan against it.