Two aging ballfields in Storm Lake are forcing a big question: what’s worth saving — and who should pay for it?
The Storm Lake City Council discussed the issue Monday night as Dan Gaffney, Operations Director for St. Mary’s Schools in Storm Lake, and Joe Kucera, Storm Lake Community Education Director, briefed members on the future of West Ninth Street Field and Memorial Field.
Kucera told the council the baseball board has ruled out using the West Ninth Street Field entirely, citing severe sanitation hazards caused by feral cats.
He said the board unanimously agreed the field is unsafe and unplayable.
Memorial Field, which hasn’t hosted baseball for about three years, was also discussed. Kucera said the field could be revived — but only with major upgrades.
Gaffney added that St. Mary’s currently only mows the field, since it hasn’t been used. He also reminded the council that St. Mary’s is still in a five‑year sharing agreement allowing its baseball players to join the Storm Lake Community School District’s team — meaning St. Mary’s would not field its own baseball team for at least two more years.
Council members raised concerns about whether Community Ed should invest money into a field St. Mary’s may still control under the lease.
Both sides said they’re willing to partner, but acknowledged unanswered questions — including whether St. Mary’s intends to field baseball again after the sharing agreement ends, and whether the lease should be renegotiated or returned to the city.
The council also revisited the ongoing feral cat issue at the West Ninth field. Kucera said he researched repellents, but none are practical or affordable.
Kucera stressed that the cat issue is not a failure of city maintenance — and not something the city can solve alone. He noted that cats have long gathered near the nearby trailer park and apartments on West Ninth Street, and that the problem persists because residents continue to leave food out, despite a city ordinance prohibiting it.
Mayor Meg McKeon said she’s received calls asking what the city plans to do, but urged residents to come forward with solutions — not just complaints.
The city council directed staff to investigate options for both fields. McKeon thanked Gaffney and Kucera for their willingness to collaborate as the city continues evaluating long‑term recreation needs.
