Groundwork Laid for New Swim Facility
The Blue Ribbon Committee of Grove area residents appointed by the City Council has been working for several weeks with Kimley-Horn, a Dallas/Chicago firm specializing in new water parks and swim facilities. The next public meeting will be held Jan. 4 at City Hall, with a final presentation scheduled for Feb. 5.
Connie Brewer, one of the committee members, outlined for The Observer what has been going on to date.
"The ultimate objective is to have a new facility that is affordable, reaches out to all segments of the community. Ideally, it would have year-round use with both indoor and outdoor pools; an indoor pool for adults for swimming, exercise, therapeutic use; and an outdoor facility for teens, a kiddie play area, a place to give swimming lessons, and more."
"Every child in Grove needs to have swimming lessons, after all, we live on a lake," she said.
Brewer said the committee had discussed the project with school officials, hospital executives, and the YMCA for their input.
The city is currently wasting $69,000 a year on an old leaking pool at Honey Creek State Park.
"It has seen its day, and frankly I would not want my child left at that pool for safety reasons," Brewer said.
"We want a new facility that will appeal to everyone, and be affordable. If the consultants come back with a facility that we cannot afford, we will drop the idea," she said. "We have already weeded out some scenarios that we cannot afford, like a wave pool, which is too extravagant."
The consultant is to report back to the committee on management costs, maintenance costs, user fees, new chlorinization techniques, synergies between the indoor and outdoor pools, and the cost per home.
"We have no idea as to the costs as yet," she said. "But it will be affordable or we won't do it."
Kimley-Horn was selected from eight firms based on a number of criteria and has designed parks in Rolla, Kirksville, Joplin, Waco and Mesquite, TX. Committee members may travel in the next few days to Independence, KS and Owasso to look at their facilities, she said. The committee also may explore outside financing through corporate sponsorships and benefactors.
"This will not be an extravagant swim facility, but it will serve all segments of the community," Brewer said.
Cost of the consultant is about $45,000 which the committee feels is money well spent, Brewer said.
"No one is trying to force this project on the city, it was actually suggested by City Council more than a year ago," she said. If it is not affordable, we won't pursue it."
She said the consultant will come back with proposals, three to four options, plans, concepts, space requirements, suggested locations for consideration, at another public meeting.
Everything must be finished by February in order to be placed on the ballot for April 2007.
The committee will also take up the civic center issue probably in January, she said.
Some have criticized the makeup of the committee, with four of seven members living outside the city limits. But most have businesses within Grove that require a heavier investment than just purchasing a home.
Connie Brewer, one of the committee members, outlined for The Observer what has been going on to date.
"The ultimate objective is to have a new facility that is affordable, reaches out to all segments of the community. Ideally, it would have year-round use with both indoor and outdoor pools; an indoor pool for adults for swimming, exercise, therapeutic use; and an outdoor facility for teens, a kiddie play area, a place to give swimming lessons, and more."
"Every child in Grove needs to have swimming lessons, after all, we live on a lake," she said.
Brewer said the committee had discussed the project with school officials, hospital executives, and the YMCA for their input.
The city is currently wasting $69,000 a year on an old leaking pool at Honey Creek State Park.
"It has seen its day, and frankly I would not want my child left at that pool for safety reasons," Brewer said.
"We want a new facility that will appeal to everyone, and be affordable. If the consultants come back with a facility that we cannot afford, we will drop the idea," she said. "We have already weeded out some scenarios that we cannot afford, like a wave pool, which is too extravagant."
The consultant is to report back to the committee on management costs, maintenance costs, user fees, new chlorinization techniques, synergies between the indoor and outdoor pools, and the cost per home.
"We have no idea as to the costs as yet," she said. "But it will be affordable or we won't do it."
Kimley-Horn was selected from eight firms based on a number of criteria and has designed parks in Rolla, Kirksville, Joplin, Waco and Mesquite, TX. Committee members may travel in the next few days to Independence, KS and Owasso to look at their facilities, she said. The committee also may explore outside financing through corporate sponsorships and benefactors.
"This will not be an extravagant swim facility, but it will serve all segments of the community," Brewer said.
Cost of the consultant is about $45,000 which the committee feels is money well spent, Brewer said.
"No one is trying to force this project on the city, it was actually suggested by City Council more than a year ago," she said. If it is not affordable, we won't pursue it."
She said the consultant will come back with proposals, three to four options, plans, concepts, space requirements, suggested locations for consideration, at another public meeting.
Everything must be finished by February in order to be placed on the ballot for April 2007.
The committee will also take up the civic center issue probably in January, she said.
Some have criticized the makeup of the committee, with four of seven members living outside the city limits. But most have businesses within Grove that require a heavier investment than just purchasing a home.
posted by Editor | 2:05 AM
1 Comments:
Welcome back Jim Mills
Yes I believe the reports are true that the School and Hospital are not interested. I had heard the meeting between the school lasted about five minutes and ended in 'not interested'. I believe we do need a new swimming pool for several reasons but I am concerned about how we are trying to accomplish this. First the council approved $50,000 for the study. $45,000 for the study and 5,000 for expenses. Then there was the meeting that only about 6 citizens attended [mostly because no one knew it was taking place] last week in the evening to see different versions and plans. I was there and most of the plans to me looked like water parks. I asked how much some of the smaller ones cost and was told about 4 to 5 million dollars excluding land four or five years ago. All of the ones I questioned were outdoor facilities, which would only be used for 3 months out of the year. Councilman Parham checked into the property tax for I believe a 3 million dollar project and the burden would have been at todays interest rates 88.00 per 100,000 of taxable property over 20 years. Connie Brewer and the rest of the group have worked hard on this but I do not understand why we did not get priceing for land and proposals from a general contracter to build a 25 yd by 25 yd pool with appropriate sized bath house. If this turns into an expensive water park the voters will most likely reject the cost and then we are back to the same old leaking pool full of campers.
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