Public turns out for BAMA meeting to learn more about proposed recreation complex
Mitchell County Recreation Director Brock Duncan (center in purple) goes over the details of the proposed recreation complex in Bakersville as a crowd listens intently Tuesday, May 31 at the Bakersville Fire Department. Attendees came to show their support and ask questions. (Photo by John Masters)
Mitchell County Recreation Director Brock Duncan made some things clear Tuesday, May 31 during a meeting of the Bakersville Area Merchants Association— the proposed new multi-use recreation complex would have a large, positive impact on the county and is slated to cost the taxpayers nothing.
Duncan was invited to the BAMA meeting to give a presentation about the rec center, which is proposed for the plot of county-owned land behind Gouge Elementary School in Bakersville.
Nearly 50 people packed the Bakersville Fire Department to attend the meeting and show their support for the project and ask questions.
The center would feature ample playing space for rec league sports, a walking track accessible to the public, a large parking lot with more than 70 spaces and a multi-use gymnasium, also accessible to the public when not in use for rec league sports.
Duncan and others involved in the roughly $4.5 million project have reiterated that the space would be for more than just rec sports. It’d be open to the public and give kids and the elderly a place to go. Teams could also use it for practice and rec league sports would have a more permanent home.
Duncan and local engineer Stan Cook both provided updates during the BAMA meeting with Duncan talking about the local impacts and some of the key features while Cook focused on the technical aspects.
Duncan fielded basic questions from BAMA members and the public. All five Mitchell County commissioners also appeared at the meeting and voiced their strong support for the project.
Duncan and commissioner Jeff Harding both reiterated that the goal is to keep the burden off of local taxpayers. Duncan and his team have applied for a grant, which they feel optimistic about obtaining.
Duncan also teased “other avenues” for securing funding, but did not specify which, instead reminding taxpayers that he aims to keep the burden completely off of them.
Additionally, the commissioners recently committed up to $500,000 toward the project, a move they can make without a tax increase.
“Your commissioners have worked very hard on this for a year and a half,” Harding said. “We’ve listened to the citizens. We’ve heard people say ‘there’s nothing for our children to do and nowhere for them to go.’ That is a correct statement. There is nothing unless it’s a school-owned facility. There’s nothing for our elderly to do. This is going to take care of every age group. It’s basically free for anyone who wants to use it. We’re fully behind this.”
Next, project officials will meet with the geotechnical engineer and figure out where the dirt necessary for raising and leveling the land will come from. Then, the building pad will be built up.
Duncan’s goal is to have the building pad ready and funding in hand by the end of the year.
Commissioner Harley Masters also addressed the common question regarding the fate of Bowman Middle when a new school for grades 3-8 is constructed.
Masters reminded the public that until the school board makes its decision on a new school, the commissioners are powerless regarding the building.
“Until the school board makes a decision, the county gets no say,” she said. “That is a school board decision. Until they build a school, then they have to offer it to the county and draw up a contract. That could be three years, five years, 10 years, I don’t know.”
Duncan pointed out that his department could and would certainly utilize Bowman, particularly the gym, if it closes. Masters said the commissioners remain committed to ensuring the building never becomes dilapidated.
Commissioners Brandon Pittman, Steve Pitman and Matthew “Vern” Grindstaff also voiced their support. County Manager Allen Cook chimed in with his excitement about the large parking lot that could be utilized by visitors during busy festivals and events, providing a boon to local business owners.
Several members of the public chimed in with final words of support and some questions before the presentation closed.
Mitchell County resident Randy Horton Jr. made one of the final comments, closing the presentation with a note of strong support.
A volunteer recreation coach himself, he pointed out the significance of having a centralized home for rec league sports and a place that adult coaches can use to teach kids the sports they grew up playing.
“The big picture of this is our children,” Horton said. “And our elderly, to have a great place for them and they can come anytime they want. That’s super awesome right there. There isn’t anything that touches my heart like our elderly and our children. If this goes into place, I think it would hit dead-on.”