Feasibility study for community center currently under way

By Ralph Pokorny

Nevada Daily Mail

New or to renew --the Nevada Parks Board will soon decide which is the best option for the Community Center.

Carol Branham, parks and recreation director, told the parks board Wednesday evening that representatives from Bucher, Willis & Ratliff were in town last week to take a look at the community center, as well as the location for a possible new facility on the northeast corner of Ash and Hunter streets.

The city council hired this company in January to conduct a feasibility study of the current community center, as well as to develop brief conceptual design for a possible new community center.

Two years ago they took a look at the facility and already had some information about the current building.

Branham said adding that the company has developed a draft report and are waiting for some additional information from the city.

"They hope to have it finalized by the end of the week," she said.

Among other the things, the company is evaluating the cost of bringing the building into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, improvements to the building's HVAC and future needs of the community.

Improvements to the community center complex is one of the projects that is included on the ballot that will be submitted to voters at the April 5 election.

"The ballot language does not tie us down to a new building," Branham said, in response to a question from board member Nora Quitno.

Other projects to be paid for the nine-year sales tax include, Earp Park improvements downtown, Lyons and Bushwhacker ball field lighting and parking improvements, new paved bike and walking trails and improvements at Twin Lakes park and the municipal golf course.

During the nine-year term of the tax the park and recreation property tax will continue to be rolled back to zero. If the sales tax is not renewed, then the property tax will be reinstated.

Branham said that the board would need to hold a special meeting to discuss the final report.

Between now and the April election, the city will be making presentations to various community organizations to educate people on what the city is proposing to do with the tax money.

Presentations are already scheduled at the next chamber of commerce luncheon, as well as upcoming Lions and Rotary meetings.

"Larry Bradley is helping us develop a PowerPoint presentation to use for our presentations," she said.

Bradley is a member of the park board.

In other business, the board voted to recommend that the city council amend the fee structure at the Frank E. Peters Municipal Golf Course to allow people to purchase season passes to the golf course on a monthly payment plan.

Dan Davis has been working on different marketing tools for the course and this payment plan is one of the ideas he has come up with to make it easier for some people to buy a season pass, Branham told the board.

Rounds played at Nevada's municipal course have been declining for several years, she told the board.

"Our goal is to increase play at the course. One way is to make the annual fee an option for more people through paying six monthly installments," she said.

The payment plan will run from April to September, with payments being made one month in advance.

"We've had some really positive feedback from golfers," Branham said.

The board also voted to recommend that the city council approve a service contract with Benchcraft to place benches at the municipal golf course at no cost to the city.

Branham said that a company had contacted them about placing benches and ball washers around the course at no charge to the city.

"Dan has been working with Benchcraft on this," she said.

The company, which is a member of the USGA, has proposed putting benches around the course and selling advertising on the benches to pay for the project.

The city will be involved in the design of the benches and ball washers, she told the board.