By By J.W. Greenhill, Hartselle Enquirer
A joint effort between the Morgan County Commission and the Morgan County Board of Education may result in the construction of four new athletic practice fields at Brewer High. The county commission recently approved advertising for construction of the fields after District 4 Commissioner Stacy George introduced the project. The county school board considered the project at its Thursday, July 11 meeting. The school system will be providing irrigation for the fields if plans are approved.
George said the joint project would save both the county and the school system money by avoiding duplicating facilities at the school and at Huskey Park.
The addition of the new fields on land on the west side of the school campus also will alleviate a safety problem according to George.
"The kids have to cross Highway 67 to get to the soccer fields at Huskey Park," George said.
If constructed, the fields would provide a full-sized practice field for the Brewer varsity football program along with a second football field that could be used by the band program for marching practice rather than the actual playing field at James Tucker Stadium.
Morgan County Schools Superintendent Don Murphy said the joint project has been under discussion for approximately a year. "I believe this will be a good deal for both the county and us, if we can get it done," Murphy said. The addition of the practice fields should help advance both the football and soccer athletic programs at Brewer along with providing a practice facility for the marching band, he said.
Two soccer fields are also included in the project. One would become the home field for the Brewer soccer program with the second as a practice field for the school. One of the soccer fields would always be available for county park and recreation use, George said.
District 3 Commissioner Don Stisher said the school system and county are already sharing facilities at other county park and school sites.
George estimated the project would cost between $40,000 and $50,000, but hoped to work with area contractors to bring the project in for $30,000. He said while the county will provide the landscaping of the fields while the county school system will provide irrigation. George said that the fields would not need restrooms or concession stands because of the closeness of the Bobby Maxwell baseball field concession stand and restrooms.
George said he hoped to have the project completed within two weeks of starting construction.
Murphy said that should negotiations fail to get the work for all four fields, the school system will try to locate the money to build at least two fields, one for the varsity football program and the other for the band program.
"We would like to have at least two fields ready for this fall," Murphy said.