An agreement years in the making will ensure the ball fields at the Farm Colony remain that way for at least the next 10 years.

The Warren County Commissioners on Wednesday signed off on an agreement with the Warren County Youth Baseball Softball Association for the use of the complex.

Commissioner Jeff Eggleston said it “feels like it was 100 years ago” when the topic was first discussed to “start trying to formalize the situation between the Little League and the county.”

“The goal has always been to have a very good conversation about the space up there,” he added, and to “build a relationship” and a path to “hopefully down the line develop it further.”

“Certainly we appreciate your time working on this agreement,” WCYBSA board member John Papalia said, noting they are “excited to move forward (and) ge this agreement finalized.”

He said the agreement is important to the group so that they “know they’re going to stay ball fields and (we) have the ability to improve them.”

Papalia added that prospective donors often ask about the status of property ownership for the site.

There was discussion at Monday’s work session about whether a gate for the side is appropriate and Papalia said it is “probably easier for us” to not have one, noting he didn’t want to be responsible for constantly locking and unlocking.

Steve Smyth, the organization’s treasurer, said damage to the fields was “kind of the genesis” of that but said it’s “obviously not” their intention to keep the public out of the site.

He called the agreement a “win-win situation.”

TRANSIT AUTHORITY MATCH APPROVED

The commissioners also signed off on an increased contribution to the local match obligation for the Transit Authority of Warren County.

But it wasn’t without some skepticism.

“I understand that the municipalities are changing what they’re contributing,” Commissioner Tricia Durbin said. “They’re voting the value of their dollars.”

She said she supports the $500 increase but said the county should “not be the step between” the municipalities and the required match.