HANCEVILLE, Ala. – The Hanceville City Council on Thursday night adopted a resolution to notify the Cullman County Board of Education (CCBOE), Superintendent Dr. Shane Barnette and Hanceville Board Member Kenny Brockman that the City of Hanceville is against the construction of the multi-use sports complex (“Project X”), which is to be paid for by the recently-passed half-cent sales tax.
The Cullman County Commission voted on March 12, 2019 to approve the new half-cent sales tax to benefit Cullman County Schools, with the money earmarked for facilities and safety upgrades for all county school campuses, as well as “Project X,” the details of which were not revealed until March 20, 2019. The tax will be imposed for 15 years. The commission’s vote was in a response to a request from the CCBOE, which had voted earlier that same morning in a special-called meeting to approach the commission with the request.
On March 20, 2019 Barnette revealed “Project X” as a multi-use sports and event venue to be located in Cullman, on Alabama Highway 157 near its intersection with I-65. The facility will be located behind Warehouse Discount Groceries, on land donated to the CCBOE by Roy Drinkard. The new half-cent sales tax, along with lodging tax money contributed by the Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce, is to help fund the project, which is projected to reach $30 million.
The resolution adopted by the Hanceville City Council Thursday night reads:
Whereas, Shane Barnette, Cullman County Board of Education (CCBOE) Superintendent, Kenny Brockman, Hanceville Board Member, and the other members of the CCBOE initiated a half-cent sales tax for a multi-use sports event venue; and
Whereas, the CCBOE passed this initiative in an early morning special called meeting; and
Whereas, the CCBOE delivered this initiative to the Cullman County Commission the same morning wherein it was improved to be imposed upon the people of Cullman County; and
Whereas, the imposed half-cent sales tax will help fund this project with an estimated cost of $30 million; and
Whereas, the county school facilities located in Hanceville are in need of repair and expansion; and
Whereas, the multi-use sports and event venue will have a detrimental effect on the local schools, local economy, and Wallace State Community College.
Now therefore, be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Hanceville that the Hanceville CCBOE Member, Kenny Brockman, the CCBOE Superintendent, Shane Barnette and the rest of the Cullman County Board of Education Members be notified that the City of Hanceville is in opposition to the construction of the multi-use sports facility.
It is further resolved that the City of Hanceville calls upon the Hanceville CCBOE Member, Kenny Brockman, to oppose this project and stand firm for this community, as he was elected to do, by petitioning for the half-cent sales tax to be used to improve our local school facilities.
Read and adopted this the 28th day of March 2019.
Councilwoman Kim Brown abstained from voting on the resolution, as she is an employee of the CCBOE.
This is a developing story.
Copyright 2019 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
