Ashlie Henderson, vice president of East Hamilton School's fundraising body, and student Anna Kate Stewart speak to Hamilton County commissioners on Sept. 28 about the lack of permanent restrooms at the school's athletic complex.Hamilton County commissioners have put more money on the table so East Hamilton School can finally build restrooms for its football field.
Plans for the middle/high school, built in 2009, did not include athletic fields, concession areas or restroom facilities when commissioners approved funds for its construction. As of November 2015, Commissioner Sabrena Smedley has dedicated $94,000 in discretionary money to build a facility that incorporated both restrooms and a concessions space. At the time, the project was estimated to cost $100,000.
Commissioners voted 9-0 Wednesday to approve Smedley's request for an additional $25,000, the amount she said was needed to launch the project due to increases in construction prices.
"I'm ecstatic about the vote," Smedley said after the meeting. "Needless to say, this is something I've been working on since I've been elected. I think this is good for the community as a whole, not just the students."
Smedley said East Hamilton principal Gail Chuy had recently met with contractors about the restrooms.
"They are hoping to break ground immediately," Smedley said.
Chuy could not be reached for comment.
The school's baseball field also needs a restroom area, Smedley said, citing the long distance between the school and the two ball fields and expressing frustration over the use of portable restrooms across the East Hamilton campus.
Last week, Ashlie Henderson, vice president of Cane-Raisers, East Hamilton's fundraising organization, told commissioners major capital projects like restrooms and parking lots proved insurmountable for her group.
The fundraisers will contribute $2,000 to the restroom project, Henderson said.
Smedley's proposal calls for her to swap $25,000 of her district's allocation of discretionary general fund money for $25,000 in capital bond debt. A state attorney general opinion issued last year said discretionary general funds cannot be used for school needs, but that capital bond money could.
Contact staff writer Paul Leach at 423-757-6481 or pleach@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @pleach_tfp.