Bill Doyle and his in-laws, Jim and Katherine Johnston, are willing to go to some lengths to persuade Lehi city and its recreation department to keep some programs -- especially when it comes to baseball.

The Johnstons and their son-in-law have spent time building a Web site and shelled out more than $1,500 for a billboard to get their opinions noticed. They have also taken out a full page advertisement in the Lehi Free Press to express what they see as a mismanaged rec program.

"We used to be one of the most feared communities in baseball," Doyle said. "For some reason, they dropped the tournament last year.

"We're after (them) to get a group to govern city programs, a governing committee, and to make sure the youth programs are run right."

Passers-by on Interstate 15 driving north can view a billboard near Thanksgiving Point that points an accusatory finger at Lehi's recreation department.

The billboard reads "Something stinks in Lehi's recreation department." Along the bottom of the billboard is the Web address www.citystinkers.com.

Doyle has been a volunteer baseball coach for the Lehi recreation program for 17 years. His father, Bob Doyle, coached for more than 30 years in the same program. This season, Bill Doyle was let go as a coach and for the first time his son, 13-year-old Sean Doyle, has a different coach for his baseball team.

Sean Doyle is the Johnstons' oldest grandson of 10 grandchildren and the grandparents began a campaign by first trying to talk to the city leaders, then sending out a six-page packet including a letter to 16 Lehi city administrative staff, eight Recreation Department staff, Lehi, Saratoga Springs and Eagle Mountain elected officials, six different media companies, three representatives of the Utah Recreation and Parks Association and the president of the Utah City Management Association.

Now they have hired the services of an attorney, Hala Afu of Van Woerkom and Weeks, LC.

"We are going to fight for what is right and when you are right, you do have the might to overcome these flagrant abuses of constitutional law," said Katherine Johnston. "I have been in disputes with Ford Motor Company and Southwestern Bell and won both times. You can fight it. You come out all right on it."

Lehi city refused comment on the issue.

"The discussion with Bill and his family has kind of changed in the last few weeks," said Jamie Davidson, city administrator. "We've tried to meet with him and address some of the issues, but Mr. Doyle and his family have chosen to hire legal counsel and now we need to discuss the issue by way of our attorneys."

Davidson said their story was not consistent with Doyle's story and they would rather leave the issue in the hands of Ken Rushton, the city attorney.

The argument leading to Doyle being let go appears to have centered around the sports program, director Blythe Bray and the Legacy Center director Dan Harrison.

Doyle protested the SAGE program, a mandatory sportsmanship class for parents, saying it was something the parents already do. He also complained to Blythe about the shift of the sport to a noncompetitive program.

"Their programs have gone way downhill," Doyle said. "You've got to have competition for these boys because it develops their character. It's the way they develop."

Bray deferred comment to the city attorney, who did not return phone calls.

The Johnstons say they will stop their campaign against Lehi city when a citizen's committee is formed to oversee the policy-making and management of the recreation programs.

"I would like to see Bill reinstated as a coach, and Lehi city needs a governing committee," Jim Johnston said.

He said firing the heads of the program and center is a decision the city needs to make itself.

"If I was running Lehi city, I would fire them in a heartbeat because I don't think they are running a fair and competent program," he said.