Cheers and applause was how a jammed packed crowd welcomed the Warren County Board of Supervisors decision Tuesday night to support the development of the Ed Stump Soccer Complex at Avtex

The redevelopment consists of a 240- acre conservancy park, 70- acre riverfront park, 160- acre eco-business park and a 30- acre soccer field complex at Ed Stump Park.

The Front Royal Warren County Economic Development Authority and the United States Soccer Foundation have urged the supervisors and Front Royal’s Town council to pay for $300,000 of the project’s first phase. Phase one will build the fields and put gravel in the parking area at an estimated cost of $2,050,845. The U.S.S.F. has pledged to pay for the rest of phase one if the county and town can come to a funding conclusion by November. The EDA calls the project a showcase complex for the U.S.S.F and Warren County that could bring in a lot of new tax revenue.

A crowd of soccer players and parents attended the meeting and four supporters spoke, including eight-year-old Andrew Fournier.

"Sometimes I trip because the field is rough, sometimes I have to pick up rocks and glass," he said.

Currently, the Front Royal Warren County Youth Soccer League has about 600 players on 45 teams. The league uses fields at the county’s middle schools and at Ed Stump Park.

Danny McEathron, a county patrol sergeant, said organized sports are a great deterrent for younger people. McEathron described himself " as a law enforement officer in our community who has first hand knowledge of the positive influences organized sports have on our young children."

He said the community has seen a rise in children deemed " at risk" and this soccer complex could help them.

The supervisors voted unanimously to support a resolution that provides up to $198,000 in county funds for the project’s first phase. The county and town have entered into a 60/40 funding agreement, in which the town will pay 40 percent of the $300,000. The county already has $34,948 set aside in capitol projects for parks and recreation, and no funds will be needed until fiscal year 2002-2002.

"We would be incredibly dumb not to participate in this." Supervisor Brack H. Bentley said. "We’re talking about one cent on the tax rate and that’s got to be money well spent."

Supervisor John Vance agreed with Bentley, but cautioned the board.

"When we get done with phase one and get ready for phase two there are some things we need to look at carefully," Vance said.

Preliminary costs for phase two are estimated at $1,590,000. In the resolution it is anticipated the community "would seek additional grant funding to fund (phase two) over a period of time, should the community choose to pursue those amenities in the future."

The supervisors also decided to table the dedication of a right of way of 50 feet in the Avtex parking lot. This right of way runs from the parking lot’s north gate adjacent to Monroe Street directly south through the parking lot’s intersection with Kendrick Lane.

The town asked the county to approve the right of way dedication and requested an additional 25 feet of right of way along the south side of Kerfoot Avenue from the Ed Stump Park parcel. Town staff has said that a 60 foot right of way would be enough room for a four lane road.

Vance said he belives action should be delayed until Supervisor Ben Weddle, who was not in attnedance, can be present for this decision, and Bentley agreed. Bentley added that the board might want to meet with town staff and examine the requests. The town is looking to buuild a connector road from Kerfoot Avenue to Kendrick Lane, which VDOT said will relieve more than 500 car trips a day on heavily traveled Royal Avenue. Vance felt that redirected traffic might cause a problem for the soccer complex.

The supervisors also adopted a proposed ordinance to amend the county’s code pertaining to imposing a transient occupancy tax. The board unanimously voted to adopt the ordinance, which allows the county to tax any type of motel or hotel lodging. County Attorney Doug Napier said the decision does not require a voter referendum and would go into effect Jan.1.

Supervisor Bradley K. "Brent" Haynes wanted to direct the new revenue to education.

"I would like to see this tax go towards educational funding, said Haynes.

Although no supervisors were against Haynes’s idea, Vance did mention that the county’s meal tax was already dedicated to education.

"I was thinking we would have another use for (the occupancy tax)," Vance said.

"We may want to keep our options open (on a year to year basis), but I have no problem with putting (the occupancy tax) for education," Bentley added.

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