NORTHERN VIRGINIA DAILY

Article date: December 01, 2001

By: Mary Jordan

Members of the Front Royal Warren County Economic Development Authority met with U.S. Soccer Foundation officials in Washington, D.C., earlier this week hoping to push forward plans for the construction of a soccer complex at the Avtex Superfund site.

Chairman Richard M. Novak has said that the EDA wants to get the community involved, as a way of advancing plans more swiftly— the county has been waiting for two years for the soccer foundation to take action. Many area residents thought the fields would be completed by now, he had said.

Novak, EDA Executive Director Stephen A. Heavener, County Administrator Douglas P. Stanley and Environmental Protection Agency representatives attended the Tuesday meeting.

The soccer foundation is currently soliciting help from the Virginia National Guard to build the fields, and commence groundwork at the site. However, the National Guard has not yet responded.

U.S. Soccer Foundation Executive Director Herb Giobbi assured county officials that his organization is still serious about the project.

"We appreciate everyone’s patience as we work through this process," Giobbi says in a press release.

"This is a long term project and the [soccer foundation] is in it for the long haul. No one wants to see this project through to completion more that we do."

Giobbi did, however, tell county representatives at this week’s meeting that they should solicit local congressional leaders help in making the project happen.

On Friday, at their regular meeting, EDA directors expressed concern over what to do if the National Guard turns down the project.

Novak suggested that the EDA keep going with the National Guard options until members hear otherwise.

"I think we should pursue this Army National Guard dog," Novak said. If it doesn’t pan out, he added, then it is time to look at other options.

The joint meeting, which Heavener said the EDA hopes to hold with the soccer foundation each quarter, did clear up some misunderstandings.

The EDA— as most community residents— was under the understanding that the county would put up $300,000 for the project and that the soccer foundation would fund the rest.

Giobbi, however, said the foundation is hoping that the National Guard will pick up the cost— if it decides to take on the project. If the Guard builds the soccer fields, it will pay for the work through its training budget.

Heavener said he is hoping to have an answer from the National Guard on whether it will do the project by late February, adding that he is fairly confident the group will agree to do the work.

"All the indications are that the Guard will be doing this project," Heavener said.

Also at Friday’s meeting, the EDA unanimously approved an Avtex Redevelopment master action plan, which it hopes to have as a working document to keep track of the various projects at the site.