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City Administrator Russell Rost told the committee that Cochran has said they don't design parks and could not perform any additional work "pro bono."
Plans call for new football, soccer, baseball and softball fields, as well as possible playgrounds, pavilions, concessions, walking trails and restrooms.
Earlier this year, the Franklin County Youth Sports Organization (FCYSO) reorganized to promote the sports complex and raise funds to complete the project. The park will be located on 44 acres of ground located off Denmark Road south of Highway 50 for sports fields.
Committee members agreed that the city should hire SWT to plan the complex and seek input from residents.
Park board and committee member Suzy Curnutte said the Cochran drawing is limited in its design.
"It doesn't take into account any input from the sports organizations," she said. "That is what I like about SWT."
SWT, which has met with a city committee, is a design firm that will work with URS to develop the city's comprehensive plan. SWT will suggest how the city can fund the complex - if it can be purchased up front, through bonds, or if the city should ask voters to approve a tax initiative.
"The public has to buy into this," said Community Development Director Joseph Graves. "That's why we need a comprehensive plan for the fields." City Administrator Russell Rost added that the city still has to find a way to fund the project and SWT can poll residents and sports organizations to find what they want the complex to include.
"This may not be something voters will support," he said. "We have heard this is what they want but once they know all the facts is that going to stand? We don't know."
The city's personnel and finance committee will discuss the recommendation Monday night.
At a meeting earlier this month aldermen were divided on how the project should be designed.
Alderman Tammy Stowe, a proponent of hiring SWT, said that move is worth the cost.
"If we are going to spend $4 million to develop a property, $25,000 is a drop in the bucket to get the best that we can for that land," she said.
Alderman Don Wurdack, who has said that hiring SWT would be a waste of money, said the firm will not provide any new information than what the plan drawn by Cochran provides.
"I bet it will come back and say, 'You need four of these (fields) and four of these," he said. "It is going to be exactly the same."
"I don't see a thing wrong with what Cochran has," added Alderman Bill Isgriggs.
