Alderman-at-large Edward Hough was unhappy about the Board of Aldermen’s choice to vote on the SportsPlex at a meeting he couldn’t make and discussed his concerns and objections Monday about the location of the SportsPlex.
At a meeting last week when Hough was not present, the board voted to take the initial steps to build the facility on R.A. Johnson Drive, a location Hough has been steadfast against.
“I was not able to go to that meeting. The board knows my feelings, and to make a motion when I am unavailable and not give me the opportunity to be involved in the discussion, I thought was a very low cheap shot,” Hough said.
Hough has been a proponent to establish the complex at the Marion County BusinessPlex. The land in question is owned by the Marion County Board of Supervisors and the Marion County Economic Development Council.
In the Saturday edition of The Columbian-Progress, Alderman Mike Smith said he had found out the supervisors were not interested in entertaining the SportsPlex at the BusinessPlex. Hough disputes that claim, stating the supervisors have never been formally asked about it.
“The problem is not the Board of Supervisors; the problem is the Board of Aldermen. It is not fair to throw the blame on the Board of Supervisors; the blame is City Hall,” Hough said.
He said he has requested a meeting with the county’s leadership, but the city has refused to reach out to meet with the supervisors. He said Alderman Jason Stringer has also requested numerous occasions to meet with the supervisors, but nothing has happened.
“Why should they (the supervisors) make a decision when no one has sat down and talked with them about it?” Hough questioned.
Hough said one of the excuses had been the request would have to go before the legislature to grant permission, yet no one has shown Hough that anywhere in writing. He also said the matter would have to be researched, but no one has put forth the effort.
After calling the Lt. Governor’s office, Hough was told it would have to be researched on their end, but they told him how he could research it, and he did. After reviewing the deeds and executive orders, Hough said there was nothing he saw that said the issue of the SportsPlex at the BusinessPlex would have to go before the legislature for permission.
“The only problem we have is getting the city to go talk to the Board of Supervisors,” Hough said.
Hough has appeared before the supervisors twice, and both times, he said, he has been treated warmly and with respect. He also noted that very little of the land is situated on the county property; the majority of it would fall on the economic council’s portion.
Hough said there has also been a double standard when it comes to it. An example he uses is the environmental study that was completed on R.A. Johnson Drive. The city paid $17,000 for the study that included land owned by the Columbia School District. However, when it came to doing a study at the BusinessPlex, he was told they would have to get permission to do that.
“We didn’t get permission to do theirs (Columbia School District), but we did anyway. So what’s fair about that,” he said.
About 75% of the school district’s land is considered to be in a flood zone. He also said some of the land owned by the city is also in a flood zone.
“Why would you build a $5 million facility in a flood zone?” Hough questioned.
The city has been actively working on doing what it can to control the flooding in the city, so he doesn’t understand why it would put the complex in a flood zone. He also said the study showed close to an acre and a half is wetlands, but looking at the map shows more wetlands than that.
Another thing mentioned was the aldermen have never gone out together to even look at the land on R.A. Johnson Drive. The environmental study was not discussed at a board meeting until Hough brought the subject up Jan. 5.
Hough suggested putting it on the ballot at the election and let the people voice an opinion in a non-binding vote.
Hough commended Mayor Justin McKenize when it comes to big-ticket items. He said the mayor makes sure the board can view the items and provide information to make informed decisions. However, he said the mayor and the board had not examined one piece of property.
“Mike was correct. We have sat on this thing for 19 months. To me, as a board, we have failed miserably as a board on the SportsPlex,” Hough said.
With 90 days before the election, now suddenly it is time to do something, Hough commented. The recreaional/tourism tax expires July, 2023. So far, $550,000 has been spent on Christmas celebration and only $17,000 on the SportsPlex.
Hough said he does not believe the current board should decide on big-ticket items with the election so close. He feels it should be up to the new board.
