All officers and township representatives returned to their positions in the Northwestern Recreation Commission for 2013.

"Thank you for this esteemed opportunity," President Don Link said. "We help the community."

Jeff Kittle, representing the USSSA Eastern Pa/NJ Fastpitch Softball and Baseball Tournaments, requested to use the facilities 6 a.m.-7 p.m. May 25-26 and July 13-14.

They will not need the fields lined, as Kittle said his organization will do it.

However, the rule has been there will be no play on Sunday mornings, but it could be discussed on a case-by-case basis.

Kittle said they could not finish the schedule without the Sunday mornings, so the vote was in favor of letting him play, but the neighbors will be informed of this and any future events when there is Sunday morning play.

The question of parking was raised.

Kittle will have 28 teams with 14 on the fields at any single time. The peak will be around noon when some teams are leaving and others arriving.

He said his staff will supervise parking.

The Northwestern Youth Athletic Association will run concession stands out of tents rather than at the concession stand.

Kathy Hermany reported Night in the Country 2013 has a contract with Steel Creek Band, which will play from 6-10 p.m.

Golf carts will be rented at $80 each, taking into account a Cities Across America discount for nonprofits.

"Night" organizers will be looking for more activities suitable for young children.

NYAA President Todd Leiser said the NYAA bought four light towers the group will rent at a reasonable price.

Raising the admission price was discussed. The decision was not to do so.

In other business, purchase of new blades for the Rascal was approved at a cost of $269. The Rascal is used to care for the infields.

Earth Engineers submitted a bill for compaction where the dugouts were being built. The invoice is for $1,043. NYAA will pay it.

Leiser pointed out that the tractors traded in on a new one were maintained by NYAA for 25 years.

"We provided them and paid maintenance," he said.

The $4,000 grant received by the NYAA for improvement at the lower playground was discussed with possible improvements including painting equipment, mulching and an all-weather picnic table.

Repairing was mentioned but that referred mostly to the swings, which Jim Hughes repaired with materials in storage.

Scheduling was mentioned again and with the possibility of having a single software for all sports and having everything on the web on one document.

Secretary Darryl Schafer said there could be a link on the school district site to the schedules.

Softball's Andy Lister received permission for Dennis Smith to use the fields at Air Products.

Smith had wanted to use the recreation softball fields but Lister said with eight teams he kept them all in use.

Lynn Township representative Justin Smith wants a checklist made of work that should be scheduled on a regular basis so everyone will know what is needed when.

He also suggested a count be made of parking spaces because when the commission wanted to know if Kittle would have enough parking space for his tournament no one was sure how much parking was available.

He asked if money in the bank was being kept to buy land.

He was told there is not enough to do that.

Link said a lot of ideas have been kicked around. Land across the creek that is not in use could make a lacrosse practice field or a soccer field for the youngest age group.

Leiser said playing fields are "all over the place" from Weisenberg to Kempton.

If possible he would like to see more centrally located fields. Some charter schools are allowing playing fields and the new Circle of Seasons charter is a possibility.

Leiser said snowmobilers were caught by the police but were let go.

The rec commission will tell state police it intends to prosecute.

One concession trailer owned by the NYAA will probably be sold.

Spring registration is at nyaatigers.org. If there are any problems the individual sport director can be contacted.

The commission walkaround is scheduled for March 9 and NYAA cleanup is March 16 with a rain date of March 23.

The opening day program is April 27.

The NYAA will host the Parkland championship game on June 22.