Work on the new softball field at Jacksonville High School may be delayed following the Jacksonville Planning Commission meeting of Aug. 18.

During the meeting, Dr. Eric Mackey, superintendent of the Jacksonville City Schools, presented the project to the group, giving its history and how the project has progressed to date.

"This started as just a project to level this area out," said Mackey. "The original idea was to level this area out and build a softball practice facility because the facilities at Henry Farm have our girls, the JCA girls, the men's teams and all the PARD teams, so there wasn't room for everybody to practice."

He went on to say how the project grew when a scoreboard was donated and it has now become a location where the softball team may hold its home games as well as a leveled-off grassy area for the band to use in practice.

The area near the student parking lot of JHS has been leveled using volunteer labor and the help of the Calhoun County Commission. Dugouts for the softball field are already under construction and a gravel road has been laid along the back side of the field to a practice field for the high school band.

Mackey hit a few stumbling blocks with the planning commission when his topographical map did not match the current contour of the area and his other blueprints didn't show all the structures to be placed on the field as they are planned.

Mackey asked for the issue to be tabled until the September 15 planning commission meeting.

At the July 27 meeting of the Jacksonville City Council, the council agreed to split the cost of water and sewer lines for the fields with the Jacksonville City School Board. The board, in their FY2010 budget, has set aside $30,000 for the construction of a concession stand and press box behind home plate.

The plans presented by Mackey did not include a sidewalk out to the facility, but the installation of a sidewalk was recommended by City Planner Lynn Causey and City Building Inspector Mark Williams.