AHOSKIE – As Ahoskie town officials continue to study plans to build a recreational complex, there may be the need for additional land.

Since taking possession of the Hurricane Floyd buyout area in the southwestern portion of town, Ahoskie officials have teamed with an East Carolina University study group to map out plans for recreational venues in that area of town.

While the town has that 60-acre tract at its disposal, studies have shown that more property is needed.

With that in mind, members of the Ahoskie Town Council emerged from a closed session here Tuesday and empowered Town Manager Tony Hammond with the task of contacting property owners adjacent to the buyout area to inquire if their land is for sale.

According to Hammond, the town is in the process of applying for a $98,000 CAMA (Coastal Area Management Act) grant that will be used for the recreational complex. The grant application is due on Feb. 28, 2007. If approved, the town will be required to match 10 percent of the grant.

In the meantime, the town has set its sights on nine separate tracts of land adjacent to the buyout area. If the owners are willing to sell at appraised tax value, Ahoskie would add approximately 20-to-30 acres of land to the recreational complex.