Agenda 01/25/2022 Item #10B (Resolution - Naming Steven J. Dodson Memorial Baseball Field)01/25/2022
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Recommendation to adopt a resolution naming the baseball field at Immokalee Community Park
the “Steven J. Dodson Memorial Baseball Field.”
OBJECTIVE: To adopt a resolution naming the baseball field at Immokalee Community Park the
“Steven J. Dodson Memorial Baseball Field” and to direct staff to install appropriate signage thereon.
CONSIDERATIONS: Sergeant Steven Dodson, a 20-year veteran of the Collier County Sheriff’s
Office, died in the line of duty on August 7, 2017. Nearly all of his service to the County was in the
Immokalee Patrol District. His name has since been added to the Memorial Wall of the Collier County
Sheriff’s Office and the state and federal Law Enforcement Memorial Walls in Tallahassee and
Washington, D.C., respectively.
Mr. Dodson was also a baseball umpire for over twenty-two (22) years, calling balls and strikes from
Little League through professional games, many of the youth games at the Immokalee ballfields in the
community he served as a Sheriff’s Deputy. His commitment to the game led to the Greater Naples
Officials’ Association creating an annual “Steven Dodson Excellence in Umpiring” award.
The naming of the baseball field at Immokalee Community Park is a fitting memorial for someone who
served the eastern Collier community so well, and who brought decades of joy and guidance to youth and
adults engaged in our national pastime.
FISCAL IMPACT: None.
GROWTH MANAGEMENT IMPACT: This action will result in no Growth Management impact.
LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS: This item has been reviewed by the County Attorney, is approved as to
form and legality and requires majority vote for approval. -JAK
RECOMMENDATION: To adopt a resolution naming the baseball field at Immokalee Community Park
the “Steven J. Dodson Memorial Baseball Field” and to direct staff to install appropriate signage thereon.
Prepared By: William L. McDaniel, Jr., District 5
ATTACHMENT(S)
1. 2022_Resolution_Steven_Dodson (DOCX)
10.B
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01/25/2022
COLLIER COUNTY
Board of County Commissioners
Item Number: 10.B
Doc ID: 21098
Item Summary: ***This Item to be heard at 1:00 p.m.*** Recommendation to adopt a resolution
naming the baseball field at Immokalee Community Park the "Steven J. Dodson Memorial Baseball
Field." (Sponsored by Commissioner McDaniel)
Meeting Date: 01/25/2022
Prepared by:
Title: – County Manager's Office
Name: John Mullins
01/18/2022 8:54 AM
Submitted by:
Title: – County Manager's Office
Name: John Mullins
01/18/2022 8:54 AM
Approved By:
Review:
Operations & Veteran Services Kimberley Grant Additional Reviewer Completed 01/18/2022 9:00 AM
Public Services Department Todd Henry Public Services Department Completed 01/18/2022 9:11 AM
Public Services Department Dan Rodriguez PSD Department Head Completed 01/19/2022 10:41 AM
Office of Management and Budget Debra Windsor Level 3 OMB Gatekeeper Review Completed 01/19/2022 10:44 AM
Office of Management and Budget Susan Usher Additional Reviewer Completed 01/19/2022 12:55 PM
County Attorney's Office Jeffrey A. Klatzkow Level 3 County Attorney's Office Review Completed 01/19/2022 1:21 PM
County Manager's Office Amy Patterson Level 4 County Manager Review Completed 01/19/2022 2:41 PM
Board of County Commissioners Geoffrey Willig Meeting Pending 01/25/2022 9:00 AM
10.B
Packet Pg. 466
1
RESOLUTION NO. 2022 - ______
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF
COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA, NAMING THE BASEBALL FIELD AT
IMMOKALEE COMMUNITY PARK THE “STEVEN J. DODSON
MEMORIAL BASEBALL FIELD.”
WHEREAS, Steven J. Dodson’s love of baseball started with his Tee Ball team at the age
of six, advancing through the youth leagues through the age of 18; and
WHEREAS, Steven’s love of the game took him from player to umpire, graduating from
the Harry Wendelstedt School for Umpires in the top ten of his class in 1994; and
WHEREAS, Steven umpired for over 22 years in Little League, high school, collegiate,
semi-professional, and professional baseball games, during these years visiting over 20 Major
League Baseball stadiums; and
WHEREAS, Sergeant Dodson, as he was known in his professional life, served for over
20 years with the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, nearly all of which in the Immokalee Patrol
District where, being fluent in Spanish, he called bilingual balls and strikes when off duty in the
evenings and on weekends; and
WHEREAS, on August 7, 2017, shortly after completing his shift in which he conducted
multiple traffic stops and responded to several community calls for service, Sergeant Dodson
suffered a fatal heart attack which was determined by the U.S. Department of Justice to be in the
line of duty; and
WHEREAS, in 2019, Sergeant Dodson’s name was added to the Memorial Wall for the
Collier County Sheriff’s Office, in 2021, the Law Enforcement Memorial Walls in Tallahassee
and Washington, D.C., and the Greater Naples Officials’ Association now has an annual “Steven
Dodson Excellence in Umpiring” award; it is fitting and proper that a baseball field bear his name
in the patrol district where he served and protected the community and provided countless hours
officiating America’s pastime.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA, in honor of Sergeant Dodson’s sacrifice to Collier
County, his commitment to the Immokalee community, and his dedication to the game he loved,
to name the baseball field at Immokalee Community Park the “Steven J. Dodson Memorial
Baseball Field” and to direct staff to install appropriate signage thereon.
THIS RESOLUTION ADOPTED after motion, second and majority vote on this the 25th
day of January, 2022.
ATTEST: BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
CRYSTAL K. KINZEL, Clerk COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA
By:_____________________________ By:_____________________________
10.B.a
Packet Pg. 467 Attachment: 2022_Resolution_Steven_Dodson (21098 : Resolution - Steven J. Dodson Memorial Baseball Field)
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, Deputy Clerk William L. McDaniel, Jr., Chairman
Approved as to form and legality:
___________________________
Jeffrey A. Klatzkow
County Attorney
10.B.a
Packet Pg. 468 Attachment: 2022_Resolution_Steven_Dodson (21098 : Resolution - Steven J. Dodson Memorial Baseball Field)