Curry officials hear arguments on sports complex

Curry County commissioners on Wednesday heard arguments for building a county sports complex from a real estate advisory company.

Steve Haemmerle and Emily Connor of Hunden Partners based in Chicago presented commissioners with a “Community reaction and sports complex study.”

Haemmerle said the company has handled over 200 studies for youth sports facilities such as the one proposed for Curry County.

In the study, Hunden surveyed more than 700 area residents to determine if there is a need for a sports complex.

“Population is 80,000 within an hour of Clovis. Cannon (Air Force Base) has a strong role in Clovis. Families with children are the primary demographic in the area,” Connor said.

A review of existing sports features in the area was negative.

“There is more demand than supply of sports fields. They are run down and in need of maintenance. There’s a limited availability of sports courts. In aquatics, there is only one public pool,” Connor said.

Connor reported the study showed millennials are most interested in a sports complex.

The study pointed out sports facilities in Hobbs, Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Amarillo and Lubbock.

“The Hobbs sports complex was the most mentioned facility,” Connor said.

Haemmerle said the study shows there is a need for a complex.

“Are competitive sports facilities available here now? No,” he said. “Can Curry County compete in regional sports tournaments? No.”

Haemmerle outlined the proposed facility as one that will have four basketball courts, a 25-meter pool, a youth pool, three multipurpose rooms, a running track, a youth play area, a rock climbing wall, two multipurpose fields and two baseball/softball diamonds.

“The preferred site is Hillcrest Park,” Haemmerle said.

A portion of operating funds would come from sports complex memberships, according to Haemmerle.

Haemmerle said annual operating costs would cost taxpayers about $650,000 if entrance fees are charged, about $920,000 if there are no entrance fees.

Commissioners were divided on whether the complex should be built at taxpayer expense.

“If we don’t do it now, we’ll never get it done,” Commissioner Fidel Madrid said.

Commissioner Brad Bender said the facility would add to “quality of life” in the area.

“We need to provide things for the military and families,” Bender said.

Commission Chairman Robert Thornton said he’s concerned about costs.

“I’ve had concerns with this thing from the start. I don’t think it’s a really good idea financially. We don’t have the money. Why don’t we fix what we have?” Thornton said.

As for money, Bender pointed out there are other entities that could get involved.

“Not only is the county interested in getting a sports complex, there’s the city (Clovis) and schools (Clovis Municipal Schools),” Bender said.

Some area residents spoke about a need for a 50-meter pool, but there was also concern over the complex being located in Hillcrest Park since soccer fields could be impacted.

Tisha Brothers spoke in favor of the complex for its volleyball options.

“It’s difficult to arrange play at the (Clovis schools) facilities depending on scheduling and whether they’re open or closed,” Brothers said.

Commissioner Seth Martin spoke in support of the complex, but said he opposes funding by property tax.

“A bond election is an option,” County Manager Lance Pyle told commissioners. “But they have not been received very well in the community.”

Estimated construction costs for the sports complex were in the vicinity of $30 million.

Some commissioners spoke of creating the complex in stages.

No action was taken.

Also Wednesday:

Commissioners approved plans for renovations to the indoor pavilion at the Fairgrounds.

The measure passed 4-1 with Commissioner Bender opposed. He and other commissioners had expressed concerns that the improvements were too costly, especially since no money would be left to improve bathrooms and the terrain outside the pavilion.

Formative Architecture of Albuquerque presented the proposal with an expectation of completion prior to the 2025 County Fair.

Cost is estimated at $2.33 million.

Commissioner Martin said previously: “We need to bring it up to today's scale of facility. It will put Curry County in competition with the city (of Clovis) and we'll be getting some of their events brought to Curry County.”

Martin said competing with the city for events is not priority, but “When we challenge each other there's always improvement.”

Staff writer Landry Sena contributed to this report.