The Russellville City Council voted 4-2 Monday night to move forward with making an offer on a 115-acre tract of land that could be used for expansions at Sloss Lake Park.

The council authorized Mayor Troy Oliver to proceed with making an offer of $425,000 to the owner of 115-acres located between the park and the WebbSite convenience store on Alabama 24.

The highway frontage of the property would cost $15,000 per acre for 15 acres.

Council members David Grissom and Jeff Masterson tried to table the measure until it could be looked at further then voted against the purchase.

“We have 30-something acres right across the highway that hasn’t been used for anything,” Masterson said.

The city purchased that property several years ago.

Councilman Gary Cummings voted with Masterson and Grissom in tabling the matter, but once that motion deadlocked 3-3, he then voted in favor of the purchase.

“I do think this is a good investment for the city,” he said.

Oliver said that he had been negotiating the purchase for quite some time and felt the city needed to purchase the property with the highway frontage.

He said if the city purchased the property, then the convenience store could possibly be annexed at some time, therefore, generating more tax revenue.

The city has previously applied for grants that would enable them to make improvements and expansions at Sloss Lake.

If funding is secured, the first phase of renovations would include re-building the existing walking trail that is situated on the east side of the lake.

As part of the first phase of renovations, a new walking trail would also be built along the southern portion of the lake that borders Alabama 24. That trail would lead across the area where the spillway is and would connect to a trail near the ball fields in John Blackwell Park.

If the city is able to move forward with the initial portion of the work, the second and third phases could eventually see the addition of swimming and camping areas.

Council members have expressed that they would like to see a splash pad built there as well.

“We just need to have something for the people of Russellville,” Councilman Lanny Hubbard said.

“We have a great resource out there but nobody uses it. If we build something that people want to use and can stay here at home, it will help the entire city.”

The council authorized Oliver to seek the lowest bid from area banks for an interest only payment for three years.