County reminds club who owns fields

The Ozaukee County Public Works Committee last week voted to allow the Port Washington Soccer Club to build a fence along Sunset Road at the county Justice Center soccer fields.

Soccer Club President Justin Myers told committee members that the fields, which are maintained by the club, are often littered with trash and have been subject to vandalism.

“We find it very disrespectful and even dangerous,” Myers said.

He said he has had to chase high school-age players and other youth, who are not club members, off the field, saying they were apparently unaware that it is “private property.”

Although the fence would border just the one side of the complex, Myers said it would pose “a barrier to remind people” that the fields are off limits.

The five-foot-high fence would be black chain link and gated.

Myers said it would improve the field and make it easier for the club to host tournaments, raise revenue and help bring the program to a more elite status, making it easier to recruit players and coaches.

While supervisors were generally supportive of the need for a fence, they took issue with Myers’ characterization of the property.

“This is not your private property,” Committee Chairman Marty Wolf said. “That would negate some of your argument.”

Supr. Tom Grabow agreed that the fields are public land.

“I don’t think we’re here to help make your soccer group elite,” he said.

Besides spending about $20,000 a year to maintain the fields, Myers pointed out the club has paid for improvements, including building a pavilion and parking lot.

“It’s all on our dime,” he said. “If the city and the county would throw in some money and spend $20,000, I would totally agree” that the land is public. “Then I wouldn’t be here.”

The club has leased the land from the county since 1995.

The committee voted to approve the fence, with the understanding that the City of Port Washington also must sign off on its construction.

They also directed county Corporation Counsel Rhonda Gordon to review the arrangement with the soccer club and determine whether it has exclusive rights to use the property.