Plan for garage at Bicentennial Park moves forward; deed restriction may cause issue

SHENANDOAH – “Heartburn” is expected for this season as borough council moved forward with plans to build a new garage where youth football players practice and town kids have played soccer and football for decades.

Council voted to award the first phase of the garage project, which would build the pole building with plumbing but leaves out electric work and fire suppression, to Dutchmen Construction for $469,460. They were the lowest of three bidders.

According to plans included in a presentation at the meeting, the garage and a salt shed will be built in the field on the east end of the park, which borough councilman Michael Whitecavage said would likely cause short-term “heartburn” for this year alone.

Many of those in attendance at Monday’s borough council meeting were involved in or supporting the Shenandoah Jr. Blue Devil football and cheer organization and made their concerns known.

Notably, officers with the organization shared the Bicentennial Park deed with borough council and the Sentinel which could bring into question both the proposed garage and the 2006-built garage it will replace.

The deed states that the land “shall and will only be used for recreational purposes, for the benefit of the community and its citizens.”

“In the event that it shall or will not be used for said recreational purposes, it shall revert to the grantor, its heirs, successors, and assigns.” The Shenandoah Chamber of Commerce gave the property to the borough for $1 in 1970 with that condition.

Solicitor James Crossen said he would review the deed.

Borough Manager Mike Cadau stressed urgency in replacing the current garage, which he claims is rat-infested and without running water.

“We’re kind of at this part where we have to do something,” Cadau said, adding that there is no other suitable site in town for the garage. “We’re in a quandary this year. We’re bleeding. The taxpayers are bleeding here with our equipment.”

“If we go into next winter, we’re going to go ahead and struggle again and we’re going to throw tax dollars away [again,]” Cadau said. “It can’t all be about the Jr. Blue Devils when the taxpayers are getting eaten alive. It’s going to cost them financially. We can coexist together.”

He alleged that there was no upkeep or maintenance on the building since it was built in 2006.

He also contended that the Jr. Blue Devils should seek a place to practice at the Shenandoah Valley School District campus. Cadau’s wife serves on the school board.

The borough voted to allow the organization to continue to use the park. Where, exactly, is not yet known.

Cadau said they will likely replace the current borough garage with a practice field for the team. Public Works Supervisor Brian Oliver said playground equipment is being removed and may add space for the team to practice.

Jr. Blue Devils President Al Matakonis contended a claim by Cadau that the organization was forced out of school district facilities. He said it was a “good faith effort” to move practices as the district still allows home games to be played at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

“We were never banned from there,” Matakonis said.

Cadau alleged that a “bigot” had “acted out” and led to the Jr. Blue Devils leaving, conceding that it was a voluntary move.

He also said “the same amount of football teams were there when I played football” when head football coach Dave Bench mentioned the amount of teams using the football stadium for practice.

Cadau sought a meeting with the Jr. Blue Devils to iron out a plan to coexist.

In the meantime, shovels can hit dirt for the garage in the next week or so.

During the first public comment portion of the meeting, Tom Twardzik, owner of Ateeco, Inc., urged the borough to hold off on a vote.

“I have concerns regarding the borough garage,” Twardzik said. “As presented, it appears to be only one phase of a larger project, yet the full scope, total projected cost and final intended use of the building have not been publicly disclosed. Without that information, neither council or the public can properly evaluate the financial impact or necessity of this project.”

“Given the lack of publicly available information at this time, I strongly urge council to table this item until the full project plan and funding strategy are clearly disclosed,” Twardzik added.

Later in the meeting, Cadau said the building is expected to cost $1.4 Million when all is said and done. As for how the building is going to be paid for, Cadau said they are seeking an RACP grant or using MABS funds.

“We have $7 Million in the bank account,” Cadau said, noting that it may need to be spent to seek other grants. “I have to put a capex project for the next three-to-five years for where we’re going to spend this money so it doesn’t hurt us for grants.”

In other business, borough council approved the purchase of new equipment for Vine Street Park and Girard Park at a cost of $50,000.

Work had been underway to clean up Girard Park, Whitecavage said, and since Vine Street was taken off the table as a future site for the borough garage, plans were made for new equipment there, too.

The upgrades will be paid for through amusement tax funds and include the installation of a pickleball court at Vine Street.

The basketball hoops and swings have already been removed.

The Shenandoah Sentinel was the ONLY local news source at this meeting. If you find value in our reporting and in knowing what YOUR local elected leaders are doing, PLEASE consider contributing to our efforts via Patreon or Buy Me A Coffee.

About Author