Comments on: Charging for Tennis in J-town?

By: Jason

Jason — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 02:16:22 +0000

I did not see this when it was first written, I only wish I had. This was not entirely Clay’s fault, though he did not stop it before it came to the council. Some folks who at the time were and may still not be a taxpayers in Jtown began to charge without receiving approval from the Jtown City Council. Bill had it right. Clay courts are a luxury and just not needed. Fortunately the right thing was done this summer and they were made free again due to the hard courts being in such poor shape. It would be interesting to know how much money the City of Jtown made off the rental of the clay courts for the summer of 2009. The accouting would be interesting to see. For this area of the country hard courts make much more sense. They can be used year round and once the initial cost the maintenance is limited at best. This does not even factor in the potential to rent the “new” hard courts to USTA Kentucky for tournaments. Clay courts are at best usable 8 months out of the year, and this is really a maximum. We do have nice days from time to time in the late fall and winter where the hard courts are usable. This year the courts could have been used a great deal in September, October, and the way it is looking even next week in November. With all things considered look at this, no more paying to water and for materials and equiptment to keep up the clay, then the potential to rent the new hard courts. Hmmm seems pretty easy to figure out to me. Seems like a simple case of debts and credits to me. From time to time you have to spend money to make money. With regards to more hard courts in the city, most in the metro area that are public courts have issues of some type including but not limited to cracks, poor nets, net posts that are damaged, etc. This could be an investment if done correctly. I really believe Bill sees the future on this. Perhaps a tennis committee to help direct this would be in order to put together a plan that can really produce some money for the City of Jeffersontown.

By: Chubby Ray Perkins

Chubby Ray Perkins — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 04:11:49 +0000

I see your point :-)

By: Rick Weber

Rick Weber — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 20:22:04 +0000

Ray, all I am saying and have been for awhile is why should we have to pay for something that we do not have to have…..the 2 council people that were added 8 or 9 years ago. This city is not being run any better than it was before they were added. If the city is really trying to cut cost this then this is a no brainer.

By: Chubby Ray Perkins

Chubby Ray Perkins — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:25:57 +0000

Rick Weber you must have been talking to your buddy Kay Ackerson. She made the same suggestion a few months back. Maybe instead of lowering the # of councilman we could just reduce the pay to each. Either way is fine with me I was in the top 6.

By: Rick Weber

Rick Weber — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:14:04 +0000

Everyone in that lives in Jeffersontown have made sacrifices. How about reducing the number of city council members back to 6 we do not have to have 8. That would save about $30,ooo a year.

By: Edward Loomis

Edward Loomis — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 13:39:08 +0000

Wasn’t even aware that tennis was free at Plainview and I would love to play on clay courts. May have to go by there soon. I definitely wouldn’t pay to play on them though. One thing I know, this city doesn’t need anymore hard courts.

By: Chubby Ray Perkins

Chubby Ray Perkins — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:53:00 +0000

I’ll tell you what. If you can convince the rest of the council on adopting some of the numerous other cost cutting measures I’ve introduced, I’ll gladdly vote for free tennis!! :-) Sacrifices have to be made somewhere. I’m sorry

By: Jeff Gillenwater

Jeff Gillenwater — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:12:26 +0000

But not cheaper than what Metro Louisville charges for the clay courts at Chickasaw Park, which are free.

In a perfect world, all the free tennis courts would be clay, except for the grass ones.

By: Chubby Ray Perkins

Chubby Ray Perkins — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 21:41:31 +0000

In a perfect world, they should be paved, but $180,000 for paving is ridiculous. We’re not talking a large portion of the J-town community that even uses them. It wouldn’t hurt my feelings to get rid of the Plainview Facility all together. Nor do I think a majority of the citizens of Jeffersontown would care either. Sell it to a private investor & let them see how much would be charged then. One other point. It’s 20% cheaper then what Metro Louisville charges at the tennis center across from the zoo. You’re making a mountain out of a mole hill on this one. This is on a trial bases anyway. If it doesn’t work we can always change it later.

By: Steve Bittenbender

Steve Bittenbender — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 20:36:58 +0000

Personally, I think clay courts are better than asphalt or hard surfaces. In fact, I didn’t even know the city had clay courts.

How much are the clay courts costing the city? I can’t imagine it would be more than $180K. I realize that’s a one-time cost versus an annual cost, but I’m just trying to get an idea for what’s cost-effective.

Not that I’m a J’town resident, but I do work in J’town and a good chunk of my food money is spent there. Just want to know my money’s being invested properly.