County and local officials likely will purchase a nearly 71-acre piece of land near Columbus” Hitching Lot Farmer”s Market to use for the county”s proposed sportsplex project, members of the Columbus City Council, Lowndes County Board of Supervisors and the Columbus-Lowndes Recreation Authority said during a Wednesday meeting.
The Burns Bottom property, owned by the city and more than 30 other separate landowners, likely will come with about an $868,440 total price tag, which includes about $174,180 in wetland mitigation costs. However the mitigation price may be lower if the sportsplex facilities are constructed around the property”s wetlands, said Neel-Schaffer engineer Kevin Stafford.
The announcement came after a lengthy comparison of the Burns Bottom land, a 156-acre tract of land near the Columbus Riverwalk and a 50-acre plot near the Highway 82 Macon-Meridian exit during a Wednesday morning meeting of the three agencies.
Once purchased, the land will house a playground area, rest rooms, a concession area, parking areas and six fields used for the CLRA”s soccer and flag football programs.
Although the Burns Bottom land did not carry the lowest total cost to construct the sportsplex, those at the meeting praised the land for its close proximity to downtown Columbus, “beautiful” natural settings and several other factors.
“My first choice is the Burns Bottom area,” said District 1 Supervisor and Board President Harry Sanders. “We could even run the Riverwalk alongside Moore”s Creek and under Main Street there to connect the Riverwalk to the sportsplex.
“I want our grandchildren one day to say ”I don”t know who bought that beautiful park down there, but it sure is nice,”” Sanders added.
According to a cost-analysis study completed by Neel-Schaffer, the total estimated cost of purchasing the Burns Bottom land and constructing the sportsplex facility would ring in at about $4.1 million.
In comparison, the total estimated cost of developing the Army Corps of Engineers-owned property near the Riverwalk would come to about $4.5 million. The property near the Macon-Meridian exit likely would ring in at about $3.6 million, said Stafford.
“Infrastructure is not a concern with the Burns Bottom or the Grayco land (near the Macon-Meridian exit) like it would be at the Corps property,” Stafford said. “The Burns Bottom land already has electricity, water, sewer and roads. Really the only thing you would have to do would be to repave a few roads and maybe build a few pedestrian bridges on the property.
“Everything I”ve heard has said we are leaving the farmer”s market where it is, even if we buy the Burns Bottom land,” Stafford added.
If the city and county purchased the Grayco land, they would have to connect the property to a sewer line. The Corps property currently contains no sewer, water or electricity hookups.
“The general consensus of our (CLRA) board would be to purchase either the Corps property or the Burns Bottom area,” CLRA Executive Director Roger Short told the members of the city and county government bodies. “I hope that preference will weigh heavily on your hearts.”
However, all members of the Board of Supervisors and Ward 1 City Councilman Gene Taylor, Ward 4 Councilman Fred Stewart and Ward 6 Councilman Jerry Kendall voiced opinions in favor of the Burns Bottom land. Ward 2 Councilman-elect Joseph Mickens, Ward 3 Councilman-elect Charlie Box, Ward 5 Councilman-elect Kabir Karriem and Ward 6 Councilman-elect Bill Gavin also attended the meeting and cast votes for the Burns Bottom property.
Ward 2 Councilwoman Susan Mackay and Ward 5 Councilman Jay Jordan voted in favor of the Corps property. Ward 3 Councilman Gene Coleman did not attend the meeting.
Although the board poll during Wednesday”s meeting did not result in any official action by the boards, each entity will review the study findings before discussing funding sources to purchase the land.
The Board of Supervisors” next meeting is June 15. The City Council next meets June 16.
“During our workshop last week, we talked about the county buying the property and then entering into an interlocal agreement with the city for the actual construction of the facility,” said District 5 Supervisor Leroy Brooks. “I just want all of us to have a clear understanding of the exact cost involved in purchasing the land.
“Maybe we could do a general obligation bond issue. There are ways we can do it to where we don”t have to put the bond to a referendum,” Brooks added. “Whichever way we decide to fund it, the public needs to understand how it will be paid for.”
Brooks also suggested the city and county consider purchasing both the Burns Bottom and the Corps properties.
“As far as buying both of the properties with the plan of connecting them together in the future; is that too far out of the realm of reality?” Brooks said. “The land costs would be about $1.2 million for both of them.”
However, other board members urged the group to consider the cost of other projects being considered by the CLRA.
“I would like the boards to put their arms around the whole package,” CLRA Board President Scott Hannon said as he explained CLRA also is planning to renovate Propst Park, secure a multi-purpose indoor sports facility and renovate several neighborhood parks. “This whole plan is certainly more than just the sportsplex, so I don”t think we should put all our eggs in one basket.”
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