Sports complex one step closer to reality

By Bonnie Jackson
News Editor
Hazlehurst Mayor Henry C. Banks  and the city board of aldermen held a brief call meeting to vote on selling 40 acres of land in the industrial park on Wednesday, January 11, 2012.
SouthPark Sports Complex approached the city in 2011 about purchasing the land in the Hazlehurst Industrial Park as the future home of a state-of-the-art sports complex that would house health, fitness, sports, recreation and family entertainment facilities.
The city agreed to have the land appraised. On Wednesday, City Attorney Olen Bryant informed the mayor and the members of the board that the 40.72 acres was appraised at $163,000.
Aldermen Frank Jones, Ward 1, Ron Sims, Ward 2, Daryl McMillan, Ward 4 and Dr. Richard Akin, Ward 5 voted to approve the contract purchase and sale of the land at the appraised value. Alderwoman Shirley Sandifer did not attend the meeting because of a death in her family.
SouthPark partners include Sports Facilities Advisory Group, Clearwater, FL, www.sportadvisory.com; Ripken Design, Bailtmore, MD, www.ripkendesign.com; and United States Speciality Sports Association, www.usssa.com. The offer is good for  90 days.