By CAROLYN CARY
ccary@TheCitizenNews.com

Brooks Town Council last week rescinded its 1998 approval of the first phase of a master plan for a new sports park, pleasing neighbors of the proposed fields but angering youth sports boosters.

“Screaming people 300 feet from my door would make my life unbearable,” said Todd Speer, one of two adjoining land owners who spoke against the park.

“How can we nurture these children, and just what are we saying to them if these ball fields are taken away,” said sports booster Lee Vernon.

Council voted 3-2 to reverse its action of Oct. 19, 1998 pertaining to 13 acres behind the county fire station on the Ga. Highway 85 Connector. The Town turned the land over to its Recreation Department for sports fields, and approved the Recreation Department's plans for phase one of a sports complex that included two girls softball fields at the far west end of the property.

Work on the project began last month, and land owners at that time objected to the softball fields, saying they did not want to have the lights, sound system and crowd noise at their front door.

Land owner James Johnson said no impact study had been done to ascertain the impact the ball fields would have on neighbors' lives and property. “It may be legal,” he said, “but it's not right.”

Speaking for the ball fields, Chuck Spellman said that currently when it is Brooks' turn to be the home field, its teams have to travel to Whitewater Middle School for their games.

“If we don't support the ball fields, the area will shrink, and if that happens no one will want to come (live) here,” said Lee Vernon.

Councilwoman Caroline Smith made a motion, seconded by Councilman Mike Hanson, to uphold the council's 1998 approval of the ball fields.

After discussion and poring over the plans for more than a half hour, Mayor Bobby Butler called for the vote. Smith and Hanson voted in favor; council members C. W. Howle, Jackie Carson and Dan Langford Jr. voted against.

Howle then moved that the Parks and Recreation Department proceed with the grading of the western corner of the park, with Langford seconding it. Voting in favor were Langford, Carson and Howle; voting against the motion were Hanson and Smith, with the motion carrying.

After further discussion it was decided to build only one softball field with no ball field or other sports facility being placed past a north-south line at the western corner of the city cemetery, which is next to the park land.