A proposal to give Mt. Carmel’s high school wrestlers a permanent practice space drew an extended discussion at Monday evening’s Wabash District 348 school board meeting.
County Commissioner Rob Dean outlined a plan combining use of the former American Legion building for wrestling practices with a possible transfer of the county-owned baseball field at Lake Froman to the school district.
Dean proposed district payments of two thousand dollars a month for ten years to help cover expenses at the Aces Wrestling Club’s building. That would total 240 thousand dollars. He also discussed the possibility of developing a nearby softball field, depending on the acquisition of additional property.
Dean emphasized that the package was his proposal and had not been approved by the other county commissioners. He said he is one of four individuals who backed the purchase of the wrestling club’s building and maintained that none would profit from the arrangement.
Responding to Dean, school board member Susie Wood said the district’s finance committee had already rejected the leasing proposal because of existing financial commitments. She clarified that the earlier presentation to the full board was for information and did not involve a board vote.
Wood also raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest and district purchasing procedures involving a sitting elected official. Dean disputed those concerns, saying he had consulted the county’s state’s attorney and had been advised his proposal was permissible.
Wood said the district’s transportation complex is a major priority, with rising fuel costs also putting pressure on the budget.
Wrestling coaches described the challenges of practicing in the Mt. Carmel Elementary School gym, where mats must be put down and taken up each day. Head coach Michael Cheesman said the program could have roughly forty high school wrestlers this season, including nine girls.
Supporters said a dedicated practice facility would reduce setup time, protect wrestling mats and ease scheduling demands on other teams.
Later in the discussion, Dean suggested a shorter arrangement of eighteen thousand dollars a year for two years and invited the district to make a counterproposal.
The discussion ended without approval of a facility agreement.
