HUTCHINSON, Kan. — After much discussion, residents around the USD 308 Sports Complex and the district were able to come to an agreement regarding lighting of the sports fields during Tuesday’s City Council meeting.

The district was asking to light the baseball and soccer fields at the complex at 23rd and Severance years after promising not to do so in exchange for building the complex. Several residents strongly objected to the proposal due to extra traffic, noise and the intrusion of lighting.

When it looked like the Council was going to reject the proposal, Randy Norwood of USD 308 amended the district’s request to install lighting at the soccer field only and allow competition baseball at the fields during the day. When that seemed to please those residents in attendance, the Council agreed to limit the lighting to the soccer field only.

The Council has already approved a similar CUP for lighting of Don Michael Field along 17th Avenue, but that came on a split vote.