Clarksville city leaders have been split over the question of where a proposed sports complex should be built, and the decision could determine whether the city attracts a Minor League Baseball team.
Clarksville Mayor Kim McMillan has backed a site off I-24 Exit 8 at Rossview Road for the new sports complex.
Just last week, the McMillan announced in her budget a plan to spend $6.5 million to purchase land to make way for the complex.
In a budget address last week, McMillan said she's backing the Exit 8 location, in part, because a consulting group has also signed off on it.
"I believe we should listen to the experts we've retained, because they are extremely qualified to look at all the factors to determine where the athletic complex would be most successful," McMillan said in the budget address.
Those plans were bolstered by a letter from National Sports Services, a company that manages franchises and helps build sports venues, saying the company wants to bring a minor league baseball team to Clarksville if the sports complex is built at the Exit 8 location.
But other city leaders say a different site, off Exit 1 at Tiny Town Road is the better choice, saying there would only be one property owner to pay for land here, compared to four at the Rossview Road site.
City Councilman Richard Garrett said the complex should not go up at Rossview Road, because it would take up space that companies could purchase in the next-door industrial park. He said Clarksville neighbors would be better served if the sports complex ended up off Tiny Town Road.
"We all live in Clarksville, we pay taxes in Clarksville and we are a huge part of the Clarksville tax base, we deserve some amenities," Garrett said. "To take it out to Exit 8 where they already have the Swan Lake sports complex nearby, that's ludicrous to me."
Clarksville City Council members were still going over the Mayor's budget request.
