Local residents had the opportunity to gain a much clearer picture of what a new rec center could look like a the very site that may house it.
Tuesday night saw the Emporia Rec Center Steering Committee’s latest community input session. It took place at Champions Landing and was split into two sessions. The first took place outdoors on the plot of land where the facility may be located if local voters approve a funding mechanism as part of a special ballot in March. During the session, visitors got a clearer picture of the exact layout of the facility and the size of its various amenities.
Kahler Slater Lead Designer Adam Bastjan says he was impressed by the turnout Tuesday evening and noted that the on-site event provided an opportunity to gain additional insight into community wants and explain in better detail why certain proposals may not have been included.
That said, Bastjan noted there have been very few suggestions from community members not included in the designs. He credits the rec steering committee for this saying the committee and community are well “aligned” when it comes to their visions for the facility, something you don’t always see with projects of this nature.
Bastjan also credited the committee for not waiting to begin the process until a funding mechanism was in place saying most communities do not take the same approach. He says the committee is operating optimistically and that will make a major difference in terms of the project’s progress if local voters choose to approve a funding source in the spring.
Speaking of the special vote in March, KVOE News spoke with City Manager Trey Cocking Tuesday night who updated progress on the ballot question that will come before local voters at that time. He tells KVOE News the city recently received the question back from bond attorneys and as of now it appears voters will be deciding on a half-cent sales tax as the funding source for the new rec facility.
If it is approved by voters the sales tax would go into effect in July of next year on all retail items. Cocking explained exactly how that will break down if the bond question is approved.
Before the question can be placed on a ballot, however, it will need final approval by Emporia City Commissioners. A date for when they will take up the matter has yet to be announced.
The special vote is scheduled for Tuesday, March 4.
