KILGORE — The Kilgore school board has given Superintendent Jerry Roberts permission to discuss leasing Kilgore's Driller Park to a potential summer collegiate baseball team.

Although the city owns the park, the Kilgore Independent School District maintains and cares for the baseball park. In May 2006, the school district entered into an agreement with the city that requires the school board to authorize events at the park.

"We have 100 percent control (of the park)," Roberts told the school board during its Tuesday night meeting.

 

That control led Mike Lieberman of Strategic Baseball Ventures to repeat a sales pitch to the school board that he presented to the Kilgore City Council. Lieberman had provided information about forming a Texas Collegiate League baseball franchise to the council Dec. 11. The council said Lieberman could continue contract discussions for the use of Driller Park with the city and the school district.

 

During his presentation to the school board, Lieberman said the summer franchise would bring affordable, family-friendly entertainment to the area while raising Kilgore's profile. He said Kilgore would be the only new franchise to join the league in 2008. The Texas Collegiate League has franchises in Coppell, McKinney, Wichita Falls and Bryan.

 

Lieberman said summer collegiate teams also show local students and athletes the positive aspects of sports and possibly a "next step" in athletic advancement.

 

"We can see a lot of bad news about sports right now," Lieberman said. "These are guys that enjoy the game — that respect the game."

 

Lieberman said he and his partners would work to address any community concerns about using the park. He said the team would not want to displace other park users, and Strategic Baseball Ventures would oversee safety, security, cleaning and any possible alcohol sales at the park.

 

"We want to be part of this community," Lieberman said.

At the end of the meeting, the board gave Roberts the green light to discuss details of a possible contract.

 

Lieberman said he hopes contract negotiations will begin soon, and he would like to begin working out specifics for a Kilgore franchise by January.

 

The school board might be presented with a contract at its January meeting.

The board typically meets at 7 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month.