Blue Ribbon Committee Meets Again

Grove's Blue Ribbon Citizen Committee has asked its consulting firm to come back with modifications to two previously submitted plans, with a new third request for an indoor pool.

Shown above is Kingfisher's Vernie Snow Aquatic Center, which has facilities for year-round use with roll-up doors leading to an outside patio for use in warm weather. This facility was one mentioned at the Monday meeting.

All seven committee members were present, who outnumbered the audience.
Warren Brower, from the audience, questioned the committee on why a consulting firm was hired and what the committee would build.
"We are a fact finding committee only, we have no money, we cannot spend money, we can only make recommendations to the City Council which will make the decisions to go forward or not," Connie Brewer, chairperson, responded. "City Council authorized the study and this firm has come up with lots of recommendations and a financing plan," she added.

"Will the property tax be increased?" another audience member asked. "We don't know. We may be able to raise part of the money from private donors," Brewer said.

The committee voted to reschedule the previously planned March 14 meeting to April 18, when Kimley-Horn, the consultant, can return with modifications and the indoor pool plan. By that time a new City Council will be in place which can deal with the issue, one committee member noted.

The committee noted that Jack Forrest, Grove real estate broker, did not respond to a hand-delivered request to appear at the meeting and discuss what he has said is a $3.5 million offer for the current Civic Center. Forest has said in the past that he does not want to deal with the current Council.

The committee has made little progress on the Civic Center issue, which would include making recommendations on what a new events center would look like, cost, whether to sell the current center or not, etc., issues which would be proposed to voters in May or June. Two offers have been made on the current center, with one wanting to purchase it "right now." Neither is close to the $3.5 million offer which Forrest says he has.