Pottawatomie County Parks, Sports & Economic Development Authority
A single, transparent public trust to master-plan, finance, and operate a multi-sport & tourism campus in the Tecumseh growth corridor—aligning youth development, venue excellence, and measurable economic impact.
Prepared by: Kenneth Crawford, Baseball Heaven Economic Impact Consulting • November 2025
Commissioner One-Pager (Decision Brief)
Purpose Authorize County Counsel to draft and file the trust indenture forming the Pottawatomie County Parks, Sports & Economic Development Authority (PCPSEDA).
Why Now
- County control of 7 acres + acquisition of 100+ acres inside Tecumseh city limits.
- Unifies governance, financing, and scheduling across baseball, softball, soccer, football, pickleball, and a rodeo arena.
- Positions the County to leverage grants, sponsorships, and tourism revenue with clear public oversight.
Key Benefits
- Unified governance (single public trust; Commissioners remain the beneficiary).
- Transparency & audits under the Open Meeting/Open Records Acts and State Auditor filing.
- Economic impact via tournaments, hospitality, naming rights, and mixed-use pads.
- Interlocal agility with the City of Tecumseh, TGDA, schools, and tribal partners.
Action requested: Motion to direct County Counsel to draft the Trust Indenture and return for approval.
Executive Doctoral Summary
The PCPSEDA model provides a legally compliant (Title 60 O.S. §176 et seq.), transparent, and scalable framework to plan, finance, and operate a countywide multi-sport campus. Advisory boards channel user expertise while the Authority ensures fiscal discipline, facility life-cycle funding, and equitable access. The plan integrates your Baseball Heaven methodology and aligns with the dissertation theme Integrity of the Game vs. Economic Impact (Politics).
- Beneficiary: Board of County Commissioners (ultimate control retained).
- Trustees: 5–7 qualified appointees (finance, construction, recreation, legal), staggered terms.
- Executive Director: professional management; volunteers serve on advisory boards.
- Interlocal agreements: utilities, EMS/police, zoning, marketing (City/TGDA/Schools/Tribes).
Authority Structure & Legal Assurance
Public Trust Formation
- Trust Indenture under 60 O.S. §176–180; filings with County Clerk & Secretary of State.
- Bylaws covering meetings, ethics, procurement, and fiscal controls.
Legal Assurance
- Assets remain in trust for Pottawatomie County; Commissioners approve major instruments/bonds.
- Authority carries liability insurance; follows Governmental Tort Claims Act.
- No ad valorem pledge without express vote; revenue-backed approach preferred.
Advisory Boards (Non-Governing)
Each board recommends schedules, standards, safety, and community programming; Authority sets policy & unified calendar.
- Youth Baseball Advisory Board
- Youth Softball Advisory Board
- Youth Soccer Advisory Board
- Youth Football Advisory Board
- Pickleball Advisory Board
- Rodeo Arena Advisory Board
- Economic Development & Tourism Advisory Board
Funding & Grants Matrix
| Source | Program | Use | Typical Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OK Tourism & Recreation Dept. | Land & Water Conservation Fund | Fields, trails, restrooms | $50K–$500K (50/50) | Eligible upon trust formation |
| USDA Rural Development | Community Facilities | Indoor Dome / Arena | Up to $10M | Low-interest financing |
| EDA | Public Works | Roads, water, sewer | 50–80% match | Regional competitiveness |
| City Interlocal | Hotel–Motel Tax | Tourism marketing | Variable | Revenue share w/ Tecumseh |
| Private Sector | Naming Rights & Leases | Fields, Dome, Arena | Negotiated | 5-year renewable cycles |
Fiscal Transparency & Safeguards
- Dual-signature trust account at County depository bank.
- Independent annual audit filed with State Auditor & Inspector.
- Quarterly public dashboard (income by source; expenses; reserve levels).
- Procurement thresholds aligned to County policy; all contracts approved in open session.
- 10-year capital reserve plan (turf, lighting, dome membrane, parking lots).
Implementation Timeline (6 Months)
| Month | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1 | Draft Trust Indenture; legal review |
| 2 | Commissioner approval; file with County Clerk / SOS |
| 3 | Appoint Trustees; adopt bylaws & meeting calendar |
| 4 | Form Advisory Boards; publish volunteer call |
| 5 | Execute Interlocal Agreements (City, TGDA, Schools, Tribes) |
| 6 | Publish master plan & launch public financial dashboard |
Organizational Chart & Conceptual Site Map
Organizational Chart
Conceptual Site Map (Not a Final Design)
Projected 10-Year ROI Summary
| Year | Visitors | Local Spend | Lodging/Sales Tax | Jobs Supported | Cumulative Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 60,000 | $1.2M | $175K | 40 | $1.2M |
| 3 | 150,000 | $2.4M | $320K | 85 | $4.8M |
| 5 | 250,000 | $3.2M | $450K | 175 | $9.8M |
| 10 | 350,000 | $4.5M | $600K | 250 | $18.6M |
Estimates derived from Baseball Heaven economic impact model; for briefing purposes.
Appendix
Statutory References
- Oklahoma Public Trust Act – 60 O.S. §176–180
- Interlocal Cooperation Act – 74 O.S. §1001 et seq.
- Open Meeting & Open Records Acts – 25 O.S. §301 et seq.; §501 et seq.
Sample Resolution (Excerpt)
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of County Commissioners of Pottawatomie County hereby directs County Counsel to prepare a Trust Indenture creating the Pottawatomie County Parks, Sports & Economic Development Authority and to return the same for approval at a subsequent regular meeting of the Board.
Closing: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” — Philippians 4:13