The Emporia Recreation Commission Steering Committee is moving forward with plans for a new recreation center at Jones Aquatic Center and renovate Lee Beran Rec Center. Whether the overall plan moves forward, however, is up in the air.
Sudden cost increases have complicated plans for a new center. City Manager Trey Cocking says the overall cost jumped 15 percent. At their monthly meeting Tuesday, Steering Committee members agreed to focus the new center at Jones Aquatic Center, given roughly $1 million in a range of preliminary projects needed at Champions Landing that would not be needed at Jones. Committee members also started discussing the removal of several amenities, including one of three gymnasiums and a water slide, without taking action.
Committee members Jami Reever and Jennifer Kraus both say any plans for cost savings — or project cuts — should also impact the renovation plans for Lee Beran, although specifics were not addressed Tuesday.
Additional work is now forthcoming to at least partially itemize potential projects at both locations to see what can be removed. The committee will next meet June 9.
The new overall price tag under consideration is around $22 million “all-in” budget, including survey work and construction, for a potential 20-year bond.
This is a developing story. KVOE News will have updates.
