An Editorial...Council Should Act on Pool, Center Study
Grove's Blue Ribbon Committee, a group of seven solid volunteer citizens, has made its recommendations to the City Council regarding a new community center and swimming pool for the city.
Sell the existing Civic Center, develop the property with a new grocery store and other associated businesses which will generate sales tax revenue; use the proceeds to purchase the Cornerstone Church and add a 50,000 square foot building for trade shows, remodel the building for banquets, meetings, etc.; build an adjacent swimming pool to replace the aging facility at the state park; include an indoor pool for hydro therapy, swim classes, etc. and add parking to the entire facility shared by both entities.
No new taxes are planned, no bond issues, no property tax. A simple bank loan and low interest loan from the state Department of Agriculture money would provide the funding.
The Committee ended its presentation at Tuesday night's Council meeting with "Let's Put it to a Vote of the People to Sell the Civic Center."
This is where we disagree. It would be a nice gesture, but it is not required. Save the $2500 in election costs. This is a business decision, not an emotional one.
Since no new taxes are required this is a matter which can be decided by members of the City Council, whom we assume ran for office to give their time to improve the city and move it forward.
Less than 20% of Grove's voters would climb out of their recliners and travel to the polls anyway. And what about the 75,000 people who live within a 30-minute drive of Grove and would use the new facilities, who can't vote.
The Council should authorize a real estate appraisal of Cornerstone Church and get a property inspection, just as any homeowner buying property would. It should study the numbers provided by the Committee to see if they are real. It should seriously advertise the sale of the existing Center. And then move on with the program, leading as they were elected to do, making decisions one way or the other.
The seven members of the Blue Ribbon Committee worked for 10 months putting the proposal together. Council has the obligation to act on it in a timely manner, using sound business practices to make decisions.
Sell the existing Civic Center, develop the property with a new grocery store and other associated businesses which will generate sales tax revenue; use the proceeds to purchase the Cornerstone Church and add a 50,000 square foot building for trade shows, remodel the building for banquets, meetings, etc.; build an adjacent swimming pool to replace the aging facility at the state park; include an indoor pool for hydro therapy, swim classes, etc. and add parking to the entire facility shared by both entities.
No new taxes are planned, no bond issues, no property tax. A simple bank loan and low interest loan from the state Department of Agriculture money would provide the funding.
The Committee ended its presentation at Tuesday night's Council meeting with "Let's Put it to a Vote of the People to Sell the Civic Center."
This is where we disagree. It would be a nice gesture, but it is not required. Save the $2500 in election costs. This is a business decision, not an emotional one.
Since no new taxes are required this is a matter which can be decided by members of the City Council, whom we assume ran for office to give their time to improve the city and move it forward.
Less than 20% of Grove's voters would climb out of their recliners and travel to the polls anyway. And what about the 75,000 people who live within a 30-minute drive of Grove and would use the new facilities, who can't vote.
The Council should authorize a real estate appraisal of Cornerstone Church and get a property inspection, just as any homeowner buying property would. It should study the numbers provided by the Committee to see if they are real. It should seriously advertise the sale of the existing Center. And then move on with the program, leading as they were elected to do, making decisions one way or the other.
The seven members of the Blue Ribbon Committee worked for 10 months putting the proposal together. Council has the obligation to act on it in a timely manner, using sound business practices to make decisions.
Labels: Editorials
posted by Editor | 1:30 AM
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