There won’t be a vote on a sales tax question to fund a new public recreation center in Emporia in March, but there will a public vote at some later time.
Emporia Recreation Commission Rec Center Steering Committee members voted unanimously Thursday to take the special March 4 election off the community calendar. Steering Committee Chair Erren Harter says the board felt it was prudent to hold off on the vote — and to not reschedule the special election at this time — because of the recent closure announcements from Holiday Resort and Tyson Foods. The decision to not immediately reschedule reflects the uncertainty about Emporia’s job situation by early next year, notably with how many residents currently working at Tyson may find local jobs or move elsewhere.
Harter stresses this move is a pause of the current process, not an end. There may well be renewed conversations by February or March to determine whether to have a special election by May or the November general election.
Harter says there might be some momentum loss, but there was enough momentum built and needs demonstrated that there shouldn’t be any problem in generating support for the rec center once conversations resume.
The Steering Committee is overseeing the process for building a new rec center in the southeast corner of Champions Landing’s property along West 18th between Rural and Merchant. Part of that process also involves repurposing the Lee Beran Recreation Center, Emporia’s public rec facility since the late 1970s, and part of that work also includes some upgrades to the DeBauge Sports Complex.
Tuesday’s community engagement session, originally designed to be the last public meeting before artist renderings were divulged, is now postponed until further notice.
