After considering several possible sites for a proposed large sports complex, Mayor David O’Mary said on Tuesday that city officials are still looking for the right spot for the project.
The “sportsplex,” as city officials have referred to the project, is part of a 4-point plan that O’Mary first announced in 2021. The plan also included transforming the former Sherer Auditorium into a new Jasper City Hall, paving projects in the city and putting funds back for the Jasper Industrial Development Board when needed for development.
The entire plan had a price tag of $25 million, which is being raised by a 1/2 of 1 percent sales tax increase which has a sunset date equal to the maturity date of the debt, meaning when the debt is paid off that tax ends. O’Mary said estimates when the loan for the funds was taken was it would take 9 years to pay back. The sales tax increase started in February 2022.
O’Mary said the funds for the sportsplex are being held in an account and earning interest.
The projects in the 4-point plan are being headed up by city council member committees. The council members leading the sports complex are Willie Moore and Jennifer Williams Smith.
The initial plan was for the sports complex to be located off Industrial Parkway in Jasper, but O’Mary said after Birmingham-based Williams Blackstock Architects looked at the land, the grading alone would cost more than the complex, making it not feasible to use that location.
“That’s not something we would want to do or could do,” O’Mary said. “We started looking other places.”
The city then thought of land off Highway 118 on the east side of the city, but it would be contingent on water and sewer being available.
“We thought that might be a catalyst for growth in that area of the city, but we got word last week and again on Monday that Jasper Water Works would not be putting water and sewer in that area.”
With both properties not suitable for building the sportsplex, city leaders went back to the drawing board, holding a meeting on Monday.
“The meeting went well,” O’Mary said. “Willie and Jennifer are doing a great job in leading this project. We are now looking for more possible locations.”
O’Mary said there is other city-owned property that may work, saying there is more property near Industrial Boulevard with more feasible topographic possibilities.
“Our commitment has been to be smart about what we are doing and to find a location with minimum site prep cost,” O’Mary said. “By doing that, we can have a place with more facilities, more accessories to the park. We don’t know what the location will be. We trust the committee. The architect firm has done some work. That work can be overlaid over any site.”
O’Mary said rumors had been circulating that the complex would not be built.
“Those rumors are not true. The complex will be built. We are just being smart with where we will build it,” he said.
