Tekoa approves vacations

The Tekoa city council approved a series of street vacations Dec. 18 which clears the way for the Tekoa School District to have more control over its athletic fields.

Council representatives voted after a public hearing on the proposed vacation of portions of platted streets crossing what is now the Tekoa football field.

At issue were parts of Leslie Street, alleys and Connell Street, along with Lake Street within G.T. Huffman's Second Addition.

The streets are mainly above the hill from the athletic field complex and were originally laid out to continue down onto where the football field was built.

The vacations allow the school district to be free to seek funding for work on the field. The city had leased the property to the district for $500 per year.

The district could not seek grants because they were not the owners. The district took down the football lights two years ago due to rot in the wooden poles. Also, the field is in a flood plain and water would accumulate on the field.

The 2.5-acre area encompasses the football field, a Little League baseball field and a softball field.