Monticello aldermen approved a bid of more than $26,000 Tuesdayto complete fencing at the Lawrence County Sportsplex.

The fence will enclose the ball field on the northwest corner ofthe complex, said District Two Alderman Steve Moreman.

“That will finish the fencing,” he said. “When we finish thatwe’ll be able to host baseball, too.”

The northwest field is the largest of the four softball fieldsat the sportsplex and the only one large enough to host baseballgames above the Little League level, Moreman said. Little Leagueand T-ball baseball can be played on the smaller fields.

Sportsplex officials are busy now preparing for next weekend’sopening of soccer season, the alderman said.

The old concession stand is being moved to its permanentlocation at the soccer fields today. Once that is done, Moremansaid, they will begin hooking up utilities. The work is expected tobe completed in time for the season’s opening game.

The fencing project nearly completes all current constructionwork at the sportsplex, he said. City and Monticello RecreationDepartment officials are presently working with potential sponsorsto erect scoreboards at the complex.

In other matters, the board hired Monticello Fire Departmentvolunteer Tony Norwood to a full-time position to fill thedepartment’s roster, Moreman said. Norwood will be attending theMississippi Fire Academy for formal training soon.