Tryon discovers it owes Harmon Field $65,000 in funding

TRYON — The town of Tryon and Harmon Field recently discovered the park has $109,627 worth of funds officials did not know about.

Of Harmon Field’s newly found unassigned fund balance, $65,000 was owed to the park by the town’s general fund.

The Harmon Field Board of Supervisors met Tuesday, with more than 40 residents in attendance, most asking that some of the newly found money be spent on a new playground.

Local parents said the playground is no longer safe, with some saying their children have been injured on the current equipment.

“I took my kids out there all the time,” said Tryon resident Kelly Sparks. “In the last three years, I’ve stopped taking them out there because they keep getting hurt. I’ve been out there twice in the last two years, and I was out there almost every day before that.”

Harmon Field Board Supervisor Travis Aldred said three quotes were received for a new playground, ranging between $65,000 and $79,000.

The Fans of Harmon Field, a volunteer organization organized by local mothers to raise money for the playground, have raised approximately $15,000, and the Dallara Project contributed $20,000 for a new playground.

Harmon Field Board member Lindy Buss, who also started Fans of Harmon Field, said if Harmon Field gave $60,000 with the Dallara Project’s $20,000, a new playground could be installed, and the Fans of Harmon Field money could be used for ongoing maintenance.

Another issue discussed Tuesday was that the current playground sits on top of a septic tank and septic field, so a new location may need to be found.

Harmon Field Chairman Benny Smith said Buss told the Dallara Project that the board did not need any money from the organziation, and the fans group would raise the money. Smith indicated that the Dallara Project was going to fund the entire playground.

“I can’t imagine we would’ve said that,” Buss responded.

Fans of Harmon Field member Lindsay Lewis said full payment from the Dallara Project was never the arrangement.

“We have our kids out there slinging lemonade for a playground they should be entitled to, quite frankly,” Lewis said.

Smith said he thinks the Harmon Field board is in support of the playground, but not an $80,000 one.

Buss said they have done research, and equipment is expensive, adding that the cost to replace the current slide would be $9,000 alone.

“[Our playground] is not safe right now,” Buss said. “Half of [our children] have been hurt on the playground. You are going to look at them and tell them they do not deserve a safe playground?”

Smith said there are other major needs that the money also needs to be spent on, including repairs to the men’s restroom that had to be closed. He also said Harmon Field needs to get with the health department to see if the new playground can even be where the current one is located.

Several parents and grandparents spoke, saying they have come to the playground and left because their kids cannot play.

Fans of Harmon Field member Jessica Betancourt said she thinks what people want is a commitment from the board that a new playground will be funded.

“If the money is being distributed at this moment, we want to know that the playground gets some of it,” Betancourt said.

Betancourt said no one is asking for all of the money. She said a large portion of the people who use Harmon Field are people with young children.

“I think it’s very important to have an updated, safe and handicap-accessible playground,” Betancourt said.

Smith said the board wants the playground improved.

“We want to make sure not only the playground gets fixed, but other things that are a danger to the public [are], too,” Smith said.

Buss said there are kids who are used to playing out there every day, and they do not get to do that anymore. She pulled out the deed agreement for Harmon Field, which she said states the park will remain a safe place for kids to play.

“We don’t have that,” Buss said.

Mike Gallagher, of Tryon, said the board should be disgraced with themselves.

“If there’s one kid getting cut on a playground that’s sitting there, then you guys have to do something,” Gallagher said.

Smith said the board is not saying they are not going to fix the playground.

Aldred said major needs at Harmon Field include the bathroom, the playground and repairs to the school building.

Harmon Field board member Rick Covil said the board just got the money less than a month ago.

Tryon’s Auditor Terry Andersen, with Carland & Andersen Inc., said a number of years ago, Harmon Field advanced the town’s general fund operating money. Over the years, it had been repaid, leaving a balance of a little more than $65,000, Andersen said.

“This, along with the Harmon Field positive operations for the year, resulted in an unassigned fund balance in the Harmon Field Fund of $109,627,” Andersen said.

The Harmon Field board has set a special meeting for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 18, at the Harmon Field cabin to go over the budget of the extra funds.

Harmon Field is funded by a special tax paid for by both town of Tryon and Tryon Township residents.

The county residents pay 66 percent of the taxes that fund Harmon Field, and in-town residents pay 33 percent, according to the Harmon Field board.

“I assure you this board is committed to fix the playground,” Smith said. “I don’t know if it’s going to be a Cadillac or a Chevrolet. We are committed to the taxpayers to not waste your money.”