Dr. Joseph Morale, vice president for student affairs at the college requested the transfer be permanent as the college would be "putting in a score board and bleachers" for a "first-class college park."

City Attorney Todd Fitts acknowledged that as a city owned property, selling it may entail some problems.

"The big issue is the city cannot donate or give land without getting fair market value," said Fitts.

Commissioner Ed Hoffman suggested prior to the vote that the city investigate a potential lease agreement.

"Wiley College is a tremendous asset to Marshall. I think we need to work with them and help them," said Hoffman, whose lease suggestion was for a $1 per year agreement for the first 10 years with an option for longer.

"There is $200,000 left in the parks bond issue, enough to build two adult softball fields," said Hoffman, who had added concerns for teams displaced by this move and development of a field formerly at the site of the new fire station.

He noted that Parks Director Jack Redmon believes there is space enough for the development of the two fields on city land at the Marshall City Arena.

Commissioners voted 5-0 for a logistics study for making the field the new Wiley College baseball team's home.

Marshall Mayor Chris Paddie and Commissioner Bill Marshall were not in attendance. The meeting was conducted by Mayor Pro Tem Zephaniah Timmins and all votes to approve were 5-0.

In other business, commissioners approved a resolution to rejoin Cities Advocating Reasonable Deregulation for two rule-making cases going before the Public Utilities Commission and funding the participation at $4,000.

Commissioners approved Betty Monigold Raines to the citizens advisory committee for city elections district revisions as requested by Hoffman.

Commissioners conditionally approved the dispersal of Community Development Block Grant funds, pending payment to the city from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Boys & Girls Club of the Big Pines will receive $10,000 and the Marshall-Harrison County Literacy Center will also receive $10,000 from the 2010-2011 allotment, which has yet to be received.

Commissioners heard a report on the size of signs allowed under the city's regulation in an item requested by Commissioner John Flowers.

"I've noticed we have a couple of large, double-stack billboards on Highway 80," said Flowers. "Marshall's size ordinance is 30 or 40 years old and does not address size. I'm not against billboards but you would not want unlimited size signs all over town."

Flowers suggested that the Planning and Zoning Commission should consider this matter and return a recommendation after providing good insight on cell phone towers.

"We have good cell phone reception in town without towers everywhere," he said.

In reports on building projects, Public Works Director J.C. Hughes said the energy efficiency repairs at the Marshall Convention Center as well as replacement of the Sanford Street bridge were on schedule.

Redmon reported approval by HUD to begin work on Memorial City Hall and that bids would be accepted soon.

Downtown restrooms are projected to be open within the next "few weeks" as long as there are no major problems, Redmon said.

Commissioner Hoffman asked if more reports had been received on the handling of employee evaluations and requested an item to discuss these for the next meeting.Hoffman also requested an action item for the Aug. 25 meeting to take "action, one way or another, to adopt" a policy.