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Residents press Davidson County for records and answers on $65M Southmont SportsPlex; county staff promises an online portal
Summary
Multiple residents told commissioners they have received little information about the proposed $65 million Southmont SportsPlex, alleging clearing without permits and asking when documents will be posted; county staff said a portal with ARPA documents, plans and minutes will be published soon.
Residents from Southmont and other parts of Davidson County used the public-comment period on Jan. 12 to demand more transparency about the proposed Southmont SportsPlex, a project residents say carries an estimated $65 million price tag and several unresolved infrastructure needs.
Keith Forrest, a Riverwood Road resident, said the board first discussed the SportsPlex a year ago and accused elected officials of a lack of follow-up and public information. "There's no indication on how you plan to spend our $65,000,000 of taxpayers' money," Forrest said, adding that neighbors have not received plans or meeting updates.
Other speakers asserted that dirt-moving and clearing occurred on the site without permits, environmental approvals or timely public notice. One resident said machinery had started clearing in areas inside a promised 100-foot buffer along property lines and argued the county had not posted necessary environmental or permitting documents online.
Planning staff and county staff responded that a public portal containing ARPA documentation, staff meeting minutes, plans and other public records is prepared and will go live after a final review. Staff said the portal will include documents generated in public meetings. "I have all the documentation that we have received up to this point, prepared. It is prepared to go live," a staff member said, adding the goal was to have it posted by the end of the week.
Commissioners urged staff to follow up with individual residents and to ensure the portal is populated with documents and links. One commissioner asked staff member Jason to touch base with requesters so outstanding public-records questions could be addressed.
No formal board action was taken on the SportsPlex at this meeting; staff committed to a portal and to follow-up with residents who requested information.
