More discussion was on the table for a proposed sports complex in Junction City/Geary county at the joint city – county commission meeting Monday evening.

Ben Bennett, County Commissioner, says they are aggressively moving forward with the project and planning for the sports complex.

“In order to make this thing work, we’ve got to have two things right off the bat – a place, and the money to do it; an

d in order to do that you have to have an organizational structure of somebody to work it and to work all the angles and all the edges that need to be put together,” says Bennett.

Bennett is referring to the contracted project manager position that was discussed several weeks ago to oversee the project from the planning to groundbreaking, and until it is operational.  Bennett said that a job description and formal search for applicants could begin very soon as they expect to have the job description drafted by next week.

Many details on the proposed sports complex are still being withheld at this time.

“We’re not telling anybody anything yet, until we get some more things on the ground,” said Bennett.

Bennett fears if those on the committee to bring the sports complex make sites public that they are considering then landowners and realtors may spike the prices from their current listings.

As for the funding of the project, Bennett says they are still working on the full proposal but are optimistic about finding sources other than taxpayers.

“I think it will work better if it comes from other sources; but the tax money we are using right now is not the tax money that Geary county people have put in the bag, it’s the people who are guests in our hotels,” said Bennett.

The transient guest hotel tax is a fee that is added to hotel stays across the state and nationwide – this is not an exclusive to Geary county tax.

One thing Bennett wants everyone to keep in mind is that this is a great revenue prospect for the community.

This could potentially bring more attractions into the area, but Bennett says that when it comes to bringing more restaurants and attractions to Junction City, that is part of the Economic Development Committee’s (EDC) job, but “[we’re] going to give them a present to work with.”

“I don’t know if we’ll see a sports complex in my lifetime or not,” said Bennett, “but I’m going to work like heck to make sure it comes because it will be a great economic boost to this community.”