RIPON – The Community Center Park has been the Ripon Chiefs’ worse enemy in the preseason.

The conditions of the practice field for the youth football program have sidelined a dozen or so youngsters with ankle or knee sprains. An 8-year-old reportedly tore an Achilles tendon.

At tonight’s Ripon City Council meeting, staff is scheduled to give an update on the field conditions during the 7 p.m. open session.

The Council Chambers is located at 259 N. Wilma St.

Director of Public Works Ted Johnston said at the previous meeting that gophers were the cause of damages to the field.  They dug holes that resulted in large divots.

The city lacks the funds and resources to fix the problem.

The Chiefs wouldn’t mind a return to Lan Park at least as a temporary fix. They practiced there with no problems for the first six weeks of last season when work not related to the current gopher problems was being conducted at the Community Center Park.



In other agenda items:

• Council will consider authorizing Mayor Elden ‘Red’ Nutt to sign a 10-year extension on the joint use agreement between the city and Ripon Unified on the Ripon Community Aquatic Center.

• Elected leaders will present a proclamation to the Stockton-San Joaquin Library for the annual reading event featuring the book, “A Paradise Built in Hell – The Extraordinary Communities that Arise in Disaster.”

• They’ll also OK donating a surplus display case to the American Legion, Post 190.

• Council will present a proclamation to the Almond Valley Christian Reform Church for upkeep of Dutch Meadows Park and Postma Park.

For more information, call Ripon City Hall at 209-599-2108 or log on to www.cityofripon.org.