Let’s compare the Mayor’s recent Op-Ed to the “actual facts”:

The Lease Agreement Ultimatum

Township’s Statement (1/14/25)

“If a signed lease agreement is not received by January 31, 2025, the BoE and Township will no longer have a partnership in maintaining the fields… As a result, an alternate location will need to be found for tennis practices and matches.”

—Email from Township Administrator, Mayor, and Recreation Commission to Superintendent

Mayor’s Public Statement (3/13/25)

“The Township remains committed to supporting our student-athletes and ensuring they have access to quality facilities.”

—Statement from the Mayor in TAP

Reality Check: If the Township was truly committed to student-athletes, why issue an ultimatum that directly impacts them?

The Supposed Need for a Lease Agreement

Mayor’s Statement (3/13/25)

“The lease agreement legally permits the Township to maintain BOE property and insure BOE activities on Township property through our Joint Insurance Fund (JIF).”

Historical Precedent (6/4/24)

“Informal Agreement. There has been an agreement in place for over 50 years. The Township and BoE have been abiding by it.”

—Lower Columbia Lease Agreement Presentation to the Athletics Committee

Reality Check: If a lease agreement was never an issue for 50+ years, why now?

The Sudden Insurance Concern

Mayor’s Letter (3/13/25)

“The lease agreement is required for forward movement. For months, the Township has been transparent in communicating that, for liability reasons, we cannot permit the school to use Township-owned courts without a signed agreement that includes proper insurance coverage.”

Public Record & Common Sense

“The issue of insurance has not been publicly discussed or mentioned until the Mayor’s Op-Ed in TAP on 3/13/25. The Township, BOE, and BHPS all maintain proper insurance, as they have for over 50 years.”

Reality Check: If this was truly an issue, why was it never mentioned in any prior discussions, presentations, or public documents?

The Blame Game

Mayor’s Statement (3/13/25)

“To date, the Board has not yet committed to finalizing the agreement.”

Superintendent’s Response (3/5/25)

“The Board is negotiating with the Township and hopes to reach an agreement that works for all concerned… Any perceived delays stem from the Board taking seriously its role as a fiduciary of public assets and not from any individual or group being difficult.”

Reality Check: The BoE is doing its due diligence, yet the Township continues to paint the narrative that they are dragging their feet.

The Bigger Picture: What’s the Real Agenda?

If you feel confused, it’s because this entire saga surrounding fields, courts, and lease agreements has been nothing short of a masterclass in deception by those in power.

Key Facts:

• The last significant discussion about the lease agreement took place in June 2024.
• The first publicly available lease agreement was released on March 4, 2025.
• Nowhere in prior discussions or documents was there any mention of prohibiting GL student use of the courts due to insurance concerns.

Questions YOU Should Be Asking:

1. If the Township was genuinely committed to student-athletes, why didn’t they collaborate with the BoE, GL Athletics Department, and BHPS between January 14 and March 14 to find a solution?
2. The Township also owns the basketball courts—are those next on the chopping block and are there insurance concerns about BHPS students using those?
3. If the ultimate goal is to acquire Columbia Park from the BoE for a “state-of-the-art” recreation complex, why create such a spectacle over the tennis courts?

Final Thought:

As I asked yesterday—what is the end game here? Who else has to suffer while the Township throws what can only be described as a political tantrum? 

Source Material

Read More on the Lower Columbia Field Agreement

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