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The Stanly County Board of Commissioners have moved forward with the proposed livestock arena after a decision made at the board’s most recent meeting.

Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the amendment to an existing contract with MCT contractors for a guaranteed maximum price of $5.8 million. The amendment calls for $143,685 for the cost of designing the building, with the rest for construction, including grading costs.

The amendment also allows county staff to review and execute the contracts after review from county attorney Jenny Furr.

According to the agenda packet, $1.87 million of the total cost has been received from grants and money previously put forth by the county.

Stanly County Farm Bureau has committed $400,000 for naming rights to the arena, along with $25,000 in private donations for the arena’s construction. The total additional funding required from the county will be $3.6 million.

County Manager Andy Lucas, who presented the amendment to commissioners, said the price does not include metal bleachers, fans or audio/video equipment. The contract has $200,000 set aside for contingency, which along with private donations or county funds, would pay for those items, Lucas said.

“(The county) staff does not necessarily recommend you take out any debt for this project,” Lucas said. “If you’re going to move forward with it, it’s recommended you use your reserves.”

Vice Chairman Mike Barbee asked Lucas and members of the livestock arena committee in attendance if they would continue to raise funds for the arena. Lucas said that was his understanding.

During discussion of the motion, Commissioner Peter Asciutto said the county “needs more venues out here to have more than just agricultural events, to be used as a multipurpose space.”

Lucas said the arena will have approximately 7,000 square feet of air-conditioned space where around 270 people sitting at round tables could meet. He said the space would be larger than Atrium Stanly’s space, which he said when completely open was space for 240.