The soccer fields on Groover Road will be getting lights, thanks to funding from the TVA in lieu of tax funds. The city is expected to receive $100,000 over the next five years to pay for this project, which will cost about $450,000. The leftover money will be used to upgrade lighting at Reuben Sims Field. | Joy Harris

The City of Hartselle is planning to use a proposed $500,000 in TVA money to install lighting on the soccer fields on Groover Road.

At the July 23 council meeting, the Hartselle City Council gave approval to begin the engineering design phase of the project.

Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, told Councilman Tom Chappell that the city would receive $100,000 in TVA in lieu of taxes money for the next five years. Chappell suggested using that money to install lighting on the soccer fields.

The project is expected to cost nearly $450,000 with the city and Hartselle Utilities doing most of the purchasing and construction on the project. Chappell said four poles might have to be set by a contractor if they hit rock.

“If we use the U.S. Communities option and purchase the poles, lights and construction materials, we could save about $150,000 to $175,000,” Chappell said.

With the more than $50,000 left over from the project, Chappell said that could be applied replacing the lighting system at Reuben Sims Field. Earlier this year, the city learned that it would have to replace the transformers on the field.

Chappell also told the council that the lighting is also inadequate for AHSAA standards, citing that umpires could prevent games from being played under the lights if the lighting was too poor.

“This may be something we have to address at some point down the road,” Chappell said. “It’s pretty dark out there on second base during the games now.”

Chappell said the city could also get help through another TVA rebate program for the baseball field, since the lighting upgrade would save energy.

Council members asked Chappell if he was certain that the funding would be coming to Hartselle. Chappell received assurances from Orr’s office that the money is as close to guaranteed as possible.

Chappell said it would take about three weeks to order the equipment.

He hoped that the construction could be complete by the fall soccer season.