Effingham County commissioners unanimously approved a 15-year recreation plan that calls for a $14.7 million central complex and an optional $2.9 million in amenities.
Commissioners approved the 61-page plan on Jan. 20.
In recent weeks, commissioners have purchased 118 acres of land on the west side of Ga. 21 for the new complex. They paid $1.26 million for the land, which is just south of Springfield.
Commission Chairman Wendall Kessler has said the county eventually could re-sell some of the land that faces the four-lane, divided highway to commercial users.
Kessler has said the county might be able to start building ball fields and a gym on the property before a March 2016 vote on another penny-per-dollar sales tax, which would help pay to build the complex.
The plan calls for the central complex to have: a gymnasium with two regulation-sized basketball courts; nine baseball-softball fields, lighted and with covered bleachers; two lighted football fields; two lighted soccer fields; four lighted batting cages; two buildings with a baseball scoring tower, restrooms and concessions; a restroom-concession building at the rectangular fields; three multi-table picnic shelters; one large, fenced, handicapped-accessible playground; and a maintenance storage building.
The first phase of the central complex would cost an estimated $6.3 million. The second phase would cost $5.9 million and the third phase would cost $2.5 million, for a total of $14.7 million.
The report says the work would be done with existing special-purpose, local-option sales tax (SPLOST) money and with money raised during the next two SPLOST cycles.
The plan describes an optional $2.9 million of amenities, including a dog park; splash pad; skate park; 1-mile, 6-foot-wide stone dust trail; and community center with meeting rooms and kitchen.
The plan also outlines improvements for the existing recreation facilities, but doesn’t assign them a dollar figure.
“With the exception of a few playgrounds and athletic fields, the existing parks and recreation facilities in Effingham County are rated to be in fair to poor condition,” the report says. “Generally, many of the county’s recreational facilities are older and have been poorly maintained. Renovating and upgrading existing facilities should be a first step to meeting existing resident needs.”
Kessler said the only comments he’s received about the plans for a central complex are positive. He said people keep telling him they hope the county will be able to save the large pecan trees.
Commissioner Vera Jones said the plan is “not set in stone.” “It can be adjusted as we go,” she said.
Patrick Graham, project developer for CHA Sports, told commissioners that the proposed financial numbers have some wiggle room, including $200,000 in Phase One for contingencies. He also said the county might work with Georgia Power to finance the lighting part of the project.
“We bought the land,” Jones said. “We better get started.”
Commissioners also declared a house on the central recreation property surplus so it can be sold. Adam Kobek, project manager, said the 1,700-square-foot house can be moved. The county will advertise and accept sealed bids for the house.
Graham said he couldn’t have timed the presentation of the 15-year recreation plan any better, since at the same meeting commissioners presented members of the recreation department’s 10-and-under Jaguar football team with certificates for winning the Georgia Recreation and Parks Association (GRPA) state championship.
It was the first state win for any recreation department football team.
Other action
In other action on Jan. 20, commissioners approved a certificate of substantial completion for the sheriff’s new offices. Sheriff Jimmy McDuffie said he believes most of the work has been completed and he’s happy with the results.
On another topic, commissioners decided not to draft a resolution suggesting how the state should pay for transportation infrastructure.
Kessler said he’d like to see voters consider a penny-per-dollar transportation sales tax, but with only two counties instead of the 10 counties along the coast that turned down the idea at the polls in 2012.
County Administrator Toss Allen said a state committee that looked into the issue discussed the possibility of a statewide penny-per-dollar sales tax for transportation, but didn’t suggest a regional approach.
Commissioners agreed to table the resolution and bring it back later if they agree on a funding method.
The commissioners also agreed to cancel their April 7 meeting. Allen said it’s during spring break for the schools and a lot of people want to go out of town at that time.