A double-play cheer to Butler city council over two good decisions about the financially struggling Kelly Automotive Park.

The first decision: Don't look to the taxpayers for a bailout.

The city-owned ballpark is nearly $250,000 in debt and three months behind on its mortgage, according to the Recreation Grounds and Facilities board, which manages the park on behalf of the Redevelopment Authority.

The Redevelopment Authority is ultimately responsible for the mortgage — not city taxpayers, a point emphasized by council and Mayor Tom Donaldson in response to a suggestion that they raise the recreation tax rate to help out.

Councilwoman Cheri Readie put it best when she said, “It's not the taxpayers' responsibility. It's (the redevelopment authority's) project that they need to figure out.”

The second decision: Do a better job keeping abreast of appointed boards and authorities.

Councilman Richard Schontz Jr. says council plans to set up semiannual meetings with each of its authorities to maintain better relations with them. The chairman of each authority would be requested to attend a council meeting and provide an update on the board.

Regular reports, delivered at council meetings and entered into the meeting minutes, would constitute a more formal communication than the current practice of appointing a liaison to each board, and would maintain a level of accountability that should be standard for all municipal governments.

A Renfrew man with rental property in Butler finds himself in hot water after city officials, responding Wednesday to a basement fire, found a multitude of code violations and condemned the building, leaving nine tenants temporarily homeless.The structure, at the northeast corner of Bluff and East Brady streets, had nonworking smoke detectors, faulty electrical and gas lines, and other issues, said Fire Chief Nick Ban and code enforcement officer Sean Gramz. They blamed the fire on bad wiring.But the bigger issue, they said, was that the property was divided into four apartments: two in the house itself and two more in the adjoining garage.A year ago, the city council adopted annual fire inspections for commercial buildings, including residential apartment complexes with more than two units. Under the new ordinance, this property is subject to inspections — or would have been, if the city had known it contained four apartments.The city apparently didn't know, even though the property sits on a busy street, just four blocks from the fire station.It's apparent the fire inspection ordinance doesn't go far enough to protect renters, and it's likely to see council take action on a tougher policy. Renters, regardless of their circumstances or the amount of rent they pay, should be assured of a basic level of safety for themselves and their families.It's unfortunate that some landlords must learn the hard way that policing themselves is better than waiting for city government to police them.

A few weeks ago we suggested the city and the Butler BlueSox cooperate and merge their resources for a July 4 fireworks celebration, for the benefit of everyone involved.The suggestion apparently sparked some dialogue, and although the city is still struggling to collect the $11,000 to pay for the fireworks, the ballclub and city are marketing their activities as a combined show.The BlueSox will have a concert after its Friday night game. It's selling the concert and fireworks as a package deal — ballgame, concert and fireworks, or concert and fireworks for a lower ticket price. They're calling it the second annual Baseball, Bands and Boom celebration.That's good. but it's one step short of what might have been — a bigger, longer fireworks display to celebrate Independence Day. Maybe next year.We might make one suggestion, borrowing an idea that comes from an age-old custom from, of all places, Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., where collection buckets are placed at the stadium exits for contributions from the spectators. The generosity of the spectators determines and size and splendor of the following year's show. And, it turns out, their generosity seems most inspired right after a dazzling, patriotic exhibit.It wouldn't take much effort to try the same thing here.