New Pool, Community Center Plans Outlined
Special Early Edition
A plan for an affordable new city swimming pool and new civic/community center was outlined Monday night at a special joint meeting of the Blue Ribbon Committee, Grove Industrial Development Authority Board, and a partial City Council. Neither proposal calls for a tax increase.
Connie Brewer, chairman, and member Bill Skea spent more than an hour going through a 25-page Power Point presentation, recommending that the sale of the existing Civic Center be put to a vote of Grove residents, with a recommendation to purchase the Cornerstone Church and expand it to include other features enabling all citizens to have a complete multi-purpose facility for use seven days a week.
The committee also recommended construction of a 5,500 square foot outdoor pool adjacent to the new Center with zero beach entry, water slide for teens, small slide for younger children, and six swimming lanes and diving boards. Cost would be $3 million, financed by a Department of Agriculture 40-year loan at 4.1% repaid at $152,704 per year. Offset by cash savings of $119,287 achieved from new sales tax revenues from new businesses to be built on the current Civic Center land, and losses on the current pool, the city would be short only $15,577 without an increase to the current city budget, the report noted.
Here are some highlights of the presentation:
--The committee suggests moving from the Civic Center concept to Civic Center PLUS Community Center that could be used full time, recommending sale of the current Civic Center based on a vote of the people and purchase of the existing Cornerstone Church on 13th street.
--This would give the city an immediate facility with a 750-seat auditorium that could be expanded to 950 seats with great acoustics, 14 acres of property adjacent to the Sports Complex, and 22,000 square feet of buildings for meeting rooms and city offices.
--The recommendation included a "wish list" adding 50,000 square feet of tip up concrete construction with brick veneer and no pillars; a cement floor with a versatile synthetic cover for basketball, volleyball, dog, boat and home/garden shows; a walking/running track; two racquetball courts, an indoor wellness pool, dressing rooms and showers. Also included on the wish list would be a commercial kitchen, remodeling of office classrooms into fitness and aerobic studios, city offices and meeting rooms; remodeling the "children's sanctuary" into large banquet/conference rooms; and an enlarged parking lot..
--This would be financed with the sale of the existing Civic Center for $2.2 million less debt of $385,000 and elimination of roof repairs at $250,000, for a net sale of $2,065 million. Asking price for the church is $3.9 million leaving a net purchase price of $1,835,000, plus estimated costs of additions and remodeling of $3,749 million or a total of $5,584 million to finance.
--Financing would be through a 30 year 5% interest rate loan, of annual payments of $359,713.
--Figures assume that rental fee income from the facility will cover utilities, housekeeping and minor repairs.
--The existing Community Center could be used to house the Grove Police Department, GMSA, and Driver's License area, one committee member suggested.
The "no frills" pool would include colorful shade structures and a shaded pavilion for birthday parties, etc; shared locker facilities with the new Community Center; and a snack bar as part of the Community Center. Use of the new pool would be water aerobics, weight management classes, post-surgery rehab, arthritis programs, expectant mothers, and stress reduction. Teens would use the facility for water volleyball, swimming lessons, life-guarding classes, a safe and fun gathering place, and jobs would be provided. Children could use the facility for swim lessons, birthday parties and water baby classes. Scuba lessons could be taught and the Fire Department could use the pool for training.
The new community center could be used for basketball games, wedding receptions, dog and boat shows, home and garden shows, concerts, high school graduations, group/club meetings, private parties and fundraising events, the committee report said.
All GIDA board members were present; all but two Blue Ribbon Committee members were present; but since only two councilmen attended, Larry Parham and Terry Ryan, a quorum was not achieved and thus no council meeting was held.
Members of the Blue Ribbon Committee are Connie Brewer, Bettie Kardos-Bishop, Pete Churchwell, Jeff Lungren, Tim Langley, Pam Sitton and Bill Skea. Brewer told the group that "our work is finished," we now leave it in the hands of GIDA and Council. We are willing to make further presentations to the citizens of Grove and at a formal council meeting, if they will attend," she said.
Only one GIDA board member, Bob Hinkle, objected to the suggested location, but he was told that there would be no affordable way to build on new ground and pay for all the infrastructure and new construction. Hinkle favors a location near Baycrest and Leisure Lane.
A plan for an affordable new city swimming pool and new civic/community center was outlined Monday night at a special joint meeting of the Blue Ribbon Committee, Grove Industrial Development Authority Board, and a partial City Council. Neither proposal calls for a tax increase.
Connie Brewer, chairman, and member Bill Skea spent more than an hour going through a 25-page Power Point presentation, recommending that the sale of the existing Civic Center be put to a vote of Grove residents, with a recommendation to purchase the Cornerstone Church and expand it to include other features enabling all citizens to have a complete multi-purpose facility for use seven days a week.
The committee also recommended construction of a 5,500 square foot outdoor pool adjacent to the new Center with zero beach entry, water slide for teens, small slide for younger children, and six swimming lanes and diving boards. Cost would be $3 million, financed by a Department of Agriculture 40-year loan at 4.1% repaid at $152,704 per year. Offset by cash savings of $119,287 achieved from new sales tax revenues from new businesses to be built on the current Civic Center land, and losses on the current pool, the city would be short only $15,577 without an increase to the current city budget, the report noted.
Here are some highlights of the presentation:
--The committee suggests moving from the Civic Center concept to Civic Center PLUS Community Center that could be used full time, recommending sale of the current Civic Center based on a vote of the people and purchase of the existing Cornerstone Church on 13th street.
--This would give the city an immediate facility with a 750-seat auditorium that could be expanded to 950 seats with great acoustics, 14 acres of property adjacent to the Sports Complex, and 22,000 square feet of buildings for meeting rooms and city offices.
--The recommendation included a "wish list" adding 50,000 square feet of tip up concrete construction with brick veneer and no pillars; a cement floor with a versatile synthetic cover for basketball, volleyball, dog, boat and home/garden shows; a walking/running track; two racquetball courts, an indoor wellness pool, dressing rooms and showers. Also included on the wish list would be a commercial kitchen, remodeling of office classrooms into fitness and aerobic studios, city offices and meeting rooms; remodeling the "children's sanctuary" into large banquet/conference rooms; and an enlarged parking lot..
--This would be financed with the sale of the existing Civic Center for $2.2 million less debt of $385,000 and elimination of roof repairs at $250,000, for a net sale of $2,065 million. Asking price for the church is $3.9 million leaving a net purchase price of $1,835,000, plus estimated costs of additions and remodeling of $3,749 million or a total of $5,584 million to finance.
--Financing would be through a 30 year 5% interest rate loan, of annual payments of $359,713.
--Figures assume that rental fee income from the facility will cover utilities, housekeeping and minor repairs.
--The existing Community Center could be used to house the Grove Police Department, GMSA, and Driver's License area, one committee member suggested.
The "no frills" pool would include colorful shade structures and a shaded pavilion for birthday parties, etc; shared locker facilities with the new Community Center; and a snack bar as part of the Community Center. Use of the new pool would be water aerobics, weight management classes, post-surgery rehab, arthritis programs, expectant mothers, and stress reduction. Teens would use the facility for water volleyball, swimming lessons, life-guarding classes, a safe and fun gathering place, and jobs would be provided. Children could use the facility for swim lessons, birthday parties and water baby classes. Scuba lessons could be taught and the Fire Department could use the pool for training.
The new community center could be used for basketball games, wedding receptions, dog and boat shows, home and garden shows, concerts, high school graduations, group/club meetings, private parties and fundraising events, the committee report said.
All GIDA board members were present; all but two Blue Ribbon Committee members were present; but since only two councilmen attended, Larry Parham and Terry Ryan, a quorum was not achieved and thus no council meeting was held.
Members of the Blue Ribbon Committee are Connie Brewer, Bettie Kardos-Bishop, Pete Churchwell, Jeff Lungren, Tim Langley, Pam Sitton and Bill Skea. Brewer told the group that "our work is finished," we now leave it in the hands of GIDA and Council. We are willing to make further presentations to the citizens of Grove and at a formal council meeting, if they will attend," she said.
Only one GIDA board member, Bob Hinkle, objected to the suggested location, but he was told that there would be no affordable way to build on new ground and pay for all the infrastructure and new construction. Hinkle favors a location near Baycrest and Leisure Lane.
Labels: City Meetings
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