Iola’s weather policy affecting youngsters during hot weather should be tightened, several Iola City Council members said.
The councilmen were shown Monday a proposed set of rules by the Iola Recreation Department that would dictate when games are delayed or canceled.
At issue is the temperature in which games are canceled altogether. The proposal would set that threshold at 116 degrees. Councilman Joel Wicoff, meanwhile, suggested a lower temperature — “105 degrees seems to be the tipping point,” Wicoff said.
With several children involved in athletics, Wicoff said extreme heat takes the joy out of playing both for participants and spectators.
More importantly, the hot temperatures put participants’ health at risk, he said.
“Most kids don’t want to be out there,” at those temperatures, Wicoff said.
Recreation Director Brad Yoder had presented councilmen with a proposal based on recommendations by the American College of Sports Medicine. At temperatures of 106 to 115 degrees, games would be shortened, depending on which league was affected. Other safety measures, such as ensuring water was available at each ball diamond, also would be implemented.
Several council members agreed with Wicoff’s contention.
“Young kids at that age may not realize they’re at risk,” Councilman Nancy Ford said.
Councilman Steve French, meanwhile, said toughening the policy would put the onus on the council, and not on parents or coaches who might feel compelled to leave youngsters out on the baseball or softball diamond in extremely hot weather.
Councilman Don Becker, meanwhile, pointed to the council’s decision June 25 to cancel games that day after they had started.
While the council received criticism from several parents and coaches for the cancellation, Becker noted one child was taken to the hospital that night for heat-related issues.
He, too, endorses Wicoff’s proposal
Yoder was instructed to bring back new proposals, triggering cancellations or delays at 105 degrees.
The rec department would be allowed some leeway for delays. If temperatures dipped below 105 later that evening, games could resume then.
