SOLON — City leaders are close to finalizing a long-anticipated update to the SRNA 28E agreement— a shared-use arrangement between the city and Solon Community School District that governs the use and maintenance of athletic facilities and concession areas. At last week’s council meeting, Mayor Dan O’Neil and Council Member Steve Duncan shared the latest progress, highlighting productive discussions with the school committee and the narrowing list of unresolved issues.
“This has been a really collaborative eff ort,” O’Neil said. “We’ve worked through a lot of the gray areas, and we’re now focusing on just a couple of outstanding items.”
One key issue involves the electric meter that currently powers the baseball scoreboard, field lights, concession stand, and dugout outlets usage that primarily benefits the school district. To simplify billing and clarify responsibilities, the city and school are considering the installation of a second electric meter. The cost of the new meter is estimated at $6,500, which would be split evenly between the two entities.
“This makes it a cleaner process,” Duncan said. “Each party would pay for what they use, which is especially important as the area continues to grow.”
The council expressed general support for moving forward with the shared expense, and a motion was introduced to allocate funds for the new meter.
Another unresolved issue involves a fee structure originally outlined in a 2006 agreement, in which the school would pay the city 20% of concession sales. That agreement appears to have stopped around 2017, prompting a reevaluation of what is fair moving forward. O’Neil emphasized the need for transparency and long-term sustainability.
“There have been a lot of handshake deals over the years that worked well at the time,” O’Neil said. “But as leadership changes on both sides, those informal agreements can get lost. This updated 28E agreement will help keep everything on paper, clear, and enforceable.”
Rasmussen is currently reviewing the city’s ongoing expenses at the facility, including utilities and maintenance, to help determine an appropriate and equitable fee structure. The school has been asked to do the same with its revenue and cost breakdown.
“The goal is to create an agreement that stands the test of time,” O’Neil said. “One that’s fair, comprehensive, and makes sense for both sides.”
Further updates will be shared as the draft agreement is finalized and reviewed.