County Commissioners approved approximately $61 million in construction contracts to build sports complex in Southmont
{Contributed Photo: Mike Loomis}
The Davidson County Commissioners approved approximately $61 million in construction contracts to build the controversial sports complex in Southmont during their meeting on Monday.
The $65 million project, which continues to be a hot topic for many Davidson County residents, includes 8 baseball and 8 soccer fields, a 4.5 acre water park, a 50,000-square-foot recreation/aquatics center, concession stands, walking trails, parking and a RV campground. It will be located on 358 acres off of Owens Road near N.C. Highway 8 in Southmont.
The commissioners voted 4-2 to award a slate of construction contracts, including building of the community center, indoor pools, multiple fields and lighting, the outdoor water feature, walking trails and the mass grading of the property. It did not include funds for road improvements and other amenities, which will be bid in a separate process, according to county management.
Commissioners Tripp Kester and Matt Mizell voted against the motion to approve these contracts. Commissioners Karen Watford, Chris Elliott, Steve Shell and Todd Yates voted for the approval of the contracts.
Several county commissioners wanted to make clear that, by law, no county commissioners nor their family members were awarded these construction contracts, or subcontracts.
Commissioner Kester attempted to pass a motion prior to the adoption of the agenda to include a discussion on postponing awarding of the construction contracts, but the motion failed for lack of votes.
Several members of the community spoke out against the project and asked for the awarding of contracts to be postponed until the newly elected board of commissioners are seated after the general election in November.
Dwight Cornelison, Dexter Short, and Robbie Beasley, who recently won their bids for county commissioner in the recent Republican primary, made a joint statement asking the current board to hold off on awarding the construction contracts. They said the opposition of the complex by a large number of citizens should be taken into consideration.
“While the word sportsplex did not appear on the ballot, it was unquestionably on the minds of many citizens and was the defining issue of the election,” said Beasley. “Elections send signals to the elected officials about the desires and concerns of their constituents. In this case, that signal was clear. Pause the complex...The citizens of Davidson County have appeared multiple times during commissioners meetings and urged the board to stop the sports complex. Those concerns should not be brushed aside.”
Other members of the community spoke in support of the complex stating it will bring much needed recreational opportunities to the youth in the area as well as the possibility for economic growth.
Shelley Daramo, who said she is the director for the recreational program at Southwood-Southmont Soccer, said youth sports is growing in the county and there is a need for adequate space for games and tournaments that are already being played in the area.
“I understand change is hard, but change is necessary,” said Daramo. “We can give our children a path of potential negative outcome for themselves as well as our community or we can help create paths of safe playing environments, not only for our soccer players but for our families.”
Prior to the vote Commissioner Mizell stated he feels all board members are doing what they feel is best for the community, but they should reconsider the project because of the consistent opposition by the citizens for over a year.
“I believe every board member up here was well intentioned, but we were wrong. I came to that conclusion a year ago and I’m asking the rest of the board to come to that conclusion as well...I am asking you to pause the project until the new board can come into office in December,” said Mizell.
Commissioner Steve Shell said although he respects that some people are opposed to the sportsplex, he continues to believe it will have a positive impact on the county.
"When I first started on this board all I heard was there is nothing for the kids in the county to do...l feel this is a good opportunity for Davidson County and nothing, businesswise, has changed that. When it's finished I think it is something every citizen in Davidson County will be proud of.”
