Lights fight finally ends with Southlake council approval

"CISD has created their own hardship. They've known for years this would be a contentious issue," said neighbor and lights opponent Sean Roberts, adding that the district has promised in the past not to install lights on the fields.

No one on either side has been able to produce evidence of such an agreement.

Carroll athletes and their parents, several of whom introduced themselves as residents of "Dragon Nation," argued that athletes are being forced to leave class to make 4 p.m. games required by the lack of lights; umpires are hard to get at the hour; and that it is dangerous to drive the athletes to play night games at Bob Jones Park.

"A vote no tonight is a vote against the very core against our community, CISD, but more importantly, it is a vote against our kids," said parent Jamie Wimberly.

The council adjourned into executive session to ask the city attorney questions after midnight before returning to unanimously grant the variance the school district requested for the lights.

"I hope, regardless of the decision and the vote, this community pulls together going forward," Mayor John Terrell said before the council voted.