Frustration boiled over at this week’s Davidson County commissioners assembly, the place residents spoke out towards plans for a brand new $61 million sports complex.
The 125-acre facility is about to incorporate a number of sports fields, a neighborhood heart and a pool.
Several residents sharply criticized the proposal through the public remark interval:
“Have you all lost your minds?” Janine Perduto requested commissioners.
“Why are Davidson County taxpayers asked to shoulder a dramatically higher property value while essential services struggle, but multi-million dollar projects continue moving forward?” stated Jessica Hughes.
“The majority of this county don’t want it,” stated Polly Leonard. “And you are just steadfast and just spitting in everybody’s face.”
Davidson County Parks and Recreation Director Thomas Marshburn says a number of the pushback appears to stem from misinformation. For one factor, he says, the concept for the sportsplex got here from residents.
“It came from surveys that had been sent out to the city,” stated Marshburn. “We hired a company to come in and do a master plan and they studied it and came back. And that was the recommendation they brought back.”
That was in 2005. Marshburn says the survey has been repeated 4 occasions since then, with comparable outcomes. He additionally says income from the county’s latest property revaluation is not going to pay for the challenge.
“Way before the property evaluation was even done, the money was set aside,” he stated.
Commissioners authorized the challenge’s funds final 12 months, with a lot of the funding coming from federal COVID-19 reduction {dollars}.
Their help could have include a political value. Chairwoman Karen Watford and Commissioner Steve Shell, who voted in favor of the sportsplex, each misplaced their seats in final week’s major.
Still, each voted once more this week to maneuver the plan ahead, alongside two different commissioners. Their votes cleared the way in which for development to start subsequent month.