News Story
Oconee County Board of Commissioners Question Economic and Community Impact of Proposed Dawson Park
By Charley Lacey
Meeting Story:Kemper Sports.HEIC
The Oconee County Board of Commissioners spent the majority of its Tuesday meeting questioning consultants on the potential economic and community impact of the proposed Dawson Park recreational sports complex. The regular meeting started at 6 p.m. and lasted two hours.
Richard Stiftinger, Kemper Sports senior project manager, gave a detailed presentation outlining four baseline operating models with early and future phases of construction. Stiftinger said even the lowest model (outdoor grass fields only) could generate more than $10 million in direct economic impact based on a five-year projection.
Several commissioners questioned the revenue assumptions, staffing needs and reliability of projections such as hotel stays, visitor spending and direct impact of the Oconee County community. Commissioner Chuck Morton was in favor of the Dawson Park proposal, highlighting the need for parks and recreational facilities in the community.
“We have got to do something about facilities and building one more gym ain’t gonna cut it.” said Morton. “It’s going to help all of these small businesses. We have to do what we’ve got to do to protect our kids.”
Kemper Sports representatives highlighted Oconee County’s strategic location, established youth sports ecosystem and supportive local government and infrastructure. One of the proposed models included synthetic turf fields, which the group said would maximize field availability, playable hours and tournament inventory. They estimated the facility would break even after five years but would economically benefit the community in the future.
Commissioner Amrey Harden challenged the projections repeatedly and said the board needs more information to protect the citizens of Oconee County before voting. He questioned hotel room calculations, number of actual available local rooms and whether the projected return justified the potential taxpayer costs.
Meeting Story: Amrey Harden.HEIC
Clark County Commissioner Amrey Harden speaks with a journalist on Dec. 2, 2025 about proposed Dawson Park. Harden challenged Kemper Sports on the economic impact of the community, protecting the Oconee County citizens. (Photo/Charley Lacey)
“I’m really just trying to make sure that all the facts were on the table and that we make informed decisions,” said Harden. “This board doesn’t rubber stamp anything.”
The commissioners also reviewed Oconee County’s FY25 audit, presented by Rushton auditor Justin C. Burruss. The general fund showed a 4.8% increase in revenue and 12.6% increase in expenditures. Burruss said the county received $750,000 in federal grants that required a second audit and reported no recommendations for internal controls of the county.
Public comment focused mainly on local business owners seeking approval of the amendment to the alcoholic beverages ordinance. These owners urged commissioners to support the amendment, as it was vital to keeping their businesses alive. The board later passed the motion to approve the amendment, and the business owners hugged in relief.
The commissioners held four hearings of zoning matters. A residential rezoning request involved an emotional result when the board voted to deny a request by a father seeking to gain more land for his family. The three other rezoning items were passed unanimously.
The meeting adjourned with commissioners agreeing to revisit the Dawson Park proposal once more information is provided.
