Lauren Estes-Velez

Hartselle Enquirer

 After much discussion, a unanimous council voted to move forward with the 9-million dollar contract to start building a sportsplex meets events center in the community of Priceville on Monday night.

Priceville Mayor Melvin Duran and the five town council members met with –
Ken Funderburk, a financial representative with STIFEL during the work session preceding the council meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday night. They discussed what the initial fees would be for the building would be where several council members agreed; it is a lot less than they initially thought.

Councilmember Joe Lubisco commented that the project $310,000 that would be owed in 2020 was far less than he thought their payments would be, however, suggested they not move on the vote to approve the start until he was able to further look over the 2018 budget.

“I’m all for this, and am ready to approve this today, there are just a few numbers I want to look at first,” Lubisco said. “As a business owner, I know how tough a few months can be that can throw off your whole year. I just want to be sure, there is enough cushion for me to approve this right now. I want this event center to happen as much as anyone.”

After discussion between he and the other council members, they elected that they had enough information to move forward.

Mayor Melvin Duran was pleased with the decision.

“I think the payments are lot lower than they anticipated and the payments will come out of the nine million, we will end up with 8.3- 8.5 million total on the cost,” Duran said. “We have to pay the first amount and pay insurance but we wont have a physical payment until 2019, its complicated to explain it the bond process. But the good thing to know is, we sold the bonds to get the money to build the sportsplex, and now we are moving forward.”

Duran said next Monday’s meeting they will pass the ordinance to continue the process along.

“On Sept. 6 all of us will get together with a group of people that have a part in the Sportsplex to look over the plans and get it finalized,” Duran said. “We initially though the building process would be in August, but I cant say now when the actual groundbreaking will start. I could speculate September to October but I am not positive.  It has been a town and team effort between the engineers and financial workers, council members and employees to see this through and we have been working on this for about two year. I appreciate the council and their support. I will always support them and I really appreciate them supporting me on this project.”