[Music] welcome to council corner where we discuss some of the big topics that happened at the council meeting my name is Caitlyn Gatlin I'm the communications and marketing manager and we have councilman Randy Warren here to tell us about a big Topic in the city the Youth Sports Authority thanks for being with us thanks for having me yeah of course so uh Brian Henry came before Council uh yesterday to talk about the recent development for uh loton Youth Sports talk to us about that it's really a a important day for lton for the Youth uh for the Youth Sports Authority we have worked tirelessly for Brian and and husin Mooney have worked on it for five years trying to put this deal together uh and we have changed the budget a little bit we've moved the money to a different uh way of spending and previously it was used for operations we've changed the wording so that we can use it for purchase of land or lease of land and that will allow us to move forward with getting the property to put the facility on and it's it's much needed I mean they've increased participation he said 51% since Eastern Sports took over 51% we've more than doubled the participation we have to uh borrow space from lot and public schools from local churches uh everywhere we can get Space we uh we try to get it so that the kids have someplace to practice and I think that he said it's a good problem to have it's an excellent problem to have uh we have more more participants than we have space that's always good um if we want Lon to become a community of choice uh for families that's the way you do it you provide uh entertainment Athletics and sports facilities for the children and the Youth of the community really working for that Premier youth sports program in the entire state of Oklahoma which I think we're well on our way so do you know of any locations that they're looking at there's a couple locations on the east side uh so that's primarily where it it'll be located in that General vicinity okay and what is your involvement um in the Youth Sports Authority I'm just a member of the Youth Sports Authority um and happy to ser very good and an advocate for all of our children of course you mentioned creating a community of choice where families Thrive very exciting um so what can we what can we expect over the next year within Youth Sports the uh the design will continue on and when the design is finished it'll come back to council uh just so that Council has an opportunity to look at it um once it's all approved from The Authority uh construction will begin uh hopefully that can take place very quickly uh and we can start playing sports in that facility we're going to have um hardcourt Sports there'll be indoor soccer uh concession areas uh it's just going to be an all-encompassing facility that we will have enough room regardless of where we decide to put it uh we'll have room to provide outdoor uh sports facilities also yeah and I know this is this has been you said five years in the making this was originally started five years ago by Brian Henry and Hussein Mooney and they have been very patient yes with the government and uh the things that we have to do and and and we have to find the money and the most important thing is the the involvement of the citizens of loton uh they stepped up and they've provided the money uh to make this happen through the Propel CIP uh we' like to thank the McMahon Foundation they're helping us out um it's a community effort yeah and we're hoping that uh it won't be another 5 years until the facility is I'm hoping that we can be in it in 2 and 1/2 years very good okay is there anything else that you want to add I'm just looking forward to it happening yes well thank you for your involvement in it and uh just advocating for our youth in the community so again that was just one part of what was discussed yesterday at Council for a full list of what was decided at Tuesday's council meeting you can visit our website l.gov