About 20 Livingston Academy football fans gathered for the third public hearing on the school’s new football field.
The two final plans were laid out for the public to view. Overton Schools Building Committee Chairman Mike Hayes said the next step is to present the plans to the county commission.
“For the bid process, what we would have to do first is I have already talked to the county commission,” Hayes said. “I am going to try and get on their September 14th meeting to present it to all the county commissioners. There was a couple at the Rickman meeting, but I want them to know the options that are out there.”
Hayes said the county Finance Director Connie York is helping the school system find funding. As of now, a banknote is the most likely way to pay for the project.
“If you ask us today, there is no way we can pull that much money,” Hayes said. “If we pulled nine million dollars out of the fund balance we would be broke. We are looking for options to pull some money from the fund balance and so much from a note to finance.”
Hayes said if the commission gives the option to use a note, the school budget committee must approve the funding. Then, go back to the commission for approval.
During the public hearing, Physical Therapist Ron Huitt asked what material the field would be made of. Hayes said the field will compose of natural grass, but a turf option is still available.
Huitt also asked if portable bleachers could be an option. Engineer Bill Collins and Architect John Cheney both said they would have to research the possibility.
Option one will be a new football field with a track and soccer field placed behind the softball park. This design requires a purchase of nine and a half acres of land. The estimated total of the design not including the land purchase is $8.7 million.
The second option will move the current football stadium diagonally to fit a new track around the field. A purchase of 3 acres will be required. The project’s estimated cost without the land purchase is $7.9 million.
Hayes said the track would be rubberized and open to the public with hour to be determined.
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