Political Notebook: Macon-Bibb officials to visit South Carolina baseball stadiums
Macon-Bibb County commissioners are taking a field trip in May.
On May 5 and 6, county officials will visit minor league baseball stadiums in the South Carolina cities of Columbia and Greenville. The trip will give them an up-close look at the parks and an opportunity meet with local leaders to learn more about the Greenville Drive and the Columbia Fireflies, which will have its home opener of the team's inaugural season on April 14.
A recent baseball feasibility report said Macon could support a Class A team and estimated it would cost about $38 million to build a stadium. The study rated various locations around downtown as potential sites for the park and possible other developments.
REFEREE BROUGHT IN TO HANDLE MACON-BIBB OFFICIALS
Macon-Bibb County officials may have someone to keep them in order if things get out of hand during discussions about special purpose local option sales tax projects.
Commissioners' first meeting was this week with the Association County Commissioners of Georgia as they work through the process of developing the next projects list.
Jeff Christie, ACCG leadership development director, said he has a good idea about one of the reasons Dave Wills, the agency's government relations manager, asked him to work with the County Commission. It's because he has 19 years experience officiating high school sports.
"If there ever needs to be a flag thrown in this room or any other, it will probably be my job," he said.
Commissioners will host several meetings, including community forums, as they develop a projects list for the $180 million SPLOST that is likely to be on ballots Nov. 8. Officials have said they'd like to see the next SPLOST include money for the second phase of upgrades to recreation centers, stormwater improvements and blight initiatives. They also want money to upgrade facilities such as the City Auditorium, where the county estimates $15 million of renovations are needed.
OPENING DAY POSTPONED
A stormy end of the week has led to the postponement of the opening day of youth baseball and the celebration of improvements to East Macon Park.
After checking out the conditions of the ballfields Friday, league officials decided to cancel Saturday's planned start of the season, Macon-Bibb County spokesman Chris Floore said.
East Macon Park has undergone about $300,000 in upgrades paid for with money from the special purpose local option sales tax. That work included improvements to ballfields, a concession stand and sidewalks as well as a new T-ball field.
Staff writer Stanley Dunlap compiled this report.
This story was originally published April 1, 2016 at 1:52 PM with the headline "Political Notebook: Macon-Bibb officials to visit South Carolina baseball stadiums ."