At its March regular meeting, Union County Commission voted to return the Parks and Recreation Grant (PGR) that would have funded the Union County Sports Complex.
The PRG would have provided soccer and football fields in Phase 1 and baseball and softball fields in Phase 2 for Union County youth.
Concession stands, lighting and equipment, as well as site development, were included in the $1.2M initial grant that most likely would have ensured the awarding of the phase 2 grant when phase 1 was completed.
According to County Mayor Jason Bailey, the cost to sustain the Union County Sports Complex would be funded through the occupancy tax for tourism and fees from tournaments and programs. The sports complex was to be located in the Luttrell area on approximately 40 acres of county-owned property originally intended as an industrial park.
In more than 25 years only one business had located to the industrial park, and that business was across the road and not on the property considered for the proposed sports complex.
Larry Lay from Paulette (6th district) made the motion, and Greg Dyer, who grew up in Luttrell and now represents Sharps Chapel, seconded the motion.
Listed by district, the following commissioners voted to send the grant back to the state and kill the development: 1st District - Mike Boles, Gerald Simmons, 3rd District -Bill Cox and Kenny Moore, 4th District - Dawn Flatford, 5th District - Greg Dyer and Eddie Simpson, 6th District - R. L. Jones and Larry Lay, and 7th District - Angela Conner-Murphy.
Listed by district and voting against the motion, which was a vote to keep the grant, was 1st District - Ashley Mike, 2nd District - Sidney Jessee Jr. and Cheryl Walker, 4th District - Danny Cooke, 6th District -Linda Effler and 7th District - Lynn Beeler.
Mayor Jerry Lawson of Luttrell addressed the commission prior to the vote. He gave several reasons why the Union County Sports Complex was needed. Lawson noted that an RV Park had already been established to service overnight visitors to the complex.
Another citizen has purchased property and is in the process of building a restaurant. In addition, banks have called to verify the development of the sports complex in order to process business loans for businesses.
The current field at Luttrell Elementary School is not maintained by the school system or anyone. As many as four teams practice at the same time on that field with three in the outfield and one in the infield.
Other sports are in even worse shape for access to practice and playing fields. According to Cynthia Butler, Youth Soccer Director, soccer serves nearly 250 children annually and the players represent all parts of Union County.
Soccer has no soccer field for practice and uses an area at Big Ridge. Commissioner Sidney Jessee Jr. gave statistics on the financial benefits of investing in youth sports with respect to tourism revenues and Mayor Lawson gave similar statistics.
Bailey commented that he would vote to keep the sports complex because when he campaigned, most citizens said they wanted more recreation for the youth.
Some of the negative statements made by Commissioner Lay was that the amount of the grant would only be enough money to grade the property, not to build the facilities. But he gave no sources to support his claim. Commissioner Conner-Murphy wondered where players would stay. Another commissioner worried about the road to the complex.
Just after commissioners nixed the Union County Sports Complex, they voted to apply for a Farm Grant to finish Heritage Park where the farmers market is located. The $1M grant, if received, will require a $250,000 local match. The motion required the local match to come from the occupancy tax (known as the hotel/motel tax).
According to Bailey, funds are currently available in the capital funds budget and the fund balance to have accommodated both the Parks and Recreation Grant and the Farm Grant. No local match may be needed for the Farm Grant if the Enterprize Grant is approved.