Blue Ribbon Committee Seeks Pool Revisions
The consultant retained by the city's Blue Ribbon Committee to come up with ideas for a new city swimming pool will return for a March 14 meeting with revised, down-scaled plans fitting a $3.5 million pool, which the committee says is "tops" for such a facility.
The committee voted to see revisions in Option 2, a fairly simple outdoor pool, and option 4, an L shaped pool, adding a zero-depth entry area.
An indoor pool would cost another $1 million and could possibly be included as part of a new events center if built, but the cost to operate it is substantial. Most of the committee felt that it was just not feasible at this time, especially without support from the new hospital facility when it is built.
Five of the seven committee members attended the meeting, with a half-dozen Grove citizens in the audience.
Committee chairman Connie Brewer told the audience "we are getting a bad name and have taken a beating. We just want to put a proposal together to forward to City Council and if they wish, to get it on the ballot for the people to vote on. We will come to a solution and make our best recommendation, based on what we feel is best and affordable. We are not going to do something outrageous," she said.
"All we have done to date is listen; we have not made any decisions on either the pool or the new events center, or selling the current Civic Center," she added.
The group then went into Executive Session for about 17 minutes to review two previous proposals on purchasing the current Civic Center, and took no action. Local real estate broker Jack Forrest did not answer or appear at the meeting regarding what he has said is a $3.5 million offer for the current center.
It was explained that the city can sell the current Center without a vote of the people but that the Council had stipulated that a vote be required and it would happen at a special election.
Mayor Carolyn Nuckolls, in attendance, told the group "whether it is the present Council or a new one in April, believe me they are going to have Executive Sessions or you are not going to have growth in Grove."
"You have a right to go into Executive Session to listen to Economic Development proposals, then excuse the person making the proposal and discuss it among yourselves.
You cannot negotiate," City Manager Bill Galletly told the group.
The committee said the new events center cannot exceed $4 million in order to be built without any new taxes. Land cost is anticipated to be $1 million unless an offer of free land is accepted.
The committee voted to see revisions in Option 2, a fairly simple outdoor pool, and option 4, an L shaped pool, adding a zero-depth entry area.
An indoor pool would cost another $1 million and could possibly be included as part of a new events center if built, but the cost to operate it is substantial. Most of the committee felt that it was just not feasible at this time, especially without support from the new hospital facility when it is built.
Five of the seven committee members attended the meeting, with a half-dozen Grove citizens in the audience.
Committee chairman Connie Brewer told the audience "we are getting a bad name and have taken a beating. We just want to put a proposal together to forward to City Council and if they wish, to get it on the ballot for the people to vote on. We will come to a solution and make our best recommendation, based on what we feel is best and affordable. We are not going to do something outrageous," she said.
"All we have done to date is listen; we have not made any decisions on either the pool or the new events center, or selling the current Civic Center," she added.
The group then went into Executive Session for about 17 minutes to review two previous proposals on purchasing the current Civic Center, and took no action. Local real estate broker Jack Forrest did not answer or appear at the meeting regarding what he has said is a $3.5 million offer for the current center.
It was explained that the city can sell the current Center without a vote of the people but that the Council had stipulated that a vote be required and it would happen at a special election.
Mayor Carolyn Nuckolls, in attendance, told the group "whether it is the present Council or a new one in April, believe me they are going to have Executive Sessions or you are not going to have growth in Grove."
"You have a right to go into Executive Session to listen to Economic Development proposals, then excuse the person making the proposal and discuss it among yourselves.
You cannot negotiate," City Manager Bill Galletly told the group.
The committee said the new events center cannot exceed $4 million in order to be built without any new taxes. Land cost is anticipated to be $1 million unless an offer of free land is accepted.
posted by Editor | 7:09 AM
9 Comments:
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
You darksiders just don't get it do you...no slander, or the delete key hits you.
The Editor
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Go get'em Darth Vader, don't let those dark siders scare you.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
An unusual event has taken place this friday the 2nd. No council agenda posted at the city hall, No council packets for the council and no posting of an agenda on the city web page [that one is not so unusual]. Law requires a posting within 24 hrs of an official meeting. The city has always posted there agenda at the city hall on friday before a council meeting.
does anybody smell fish?
The law requires posting 24 hours in advance of the meeting, which is Monday by 6 p.m.
The City Clerk who normally prepares the Council Agenda, was ill Friday and thus no agenda was prepared.
We asked for fish at the local grocery store--fresh salmon--and the man said most people here eat fish out of Grand Lake.
The Editor
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Yes, but look how many times she is 'sick' on a Friday -- just before some important item will come before the Council. Looks like a planned event. Seems that anyone could type an Agenda.
I don't know anyone with any sense that eat the sick fish from Grand Lake any more.
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