Ark Valley News - Room for community center in city budget

Room for community center in city budget
By Chris Strunk
Last Updated: June 18, 2015

The proposed Valley Center Community Center, which would include a library, got a shot in the arm this week as the city council continued putting together a city spending plan for 2016.

George Kolb, interim city administrator, said the city should be able to cover capital improvement expenses next year and contribute $1 million toward the $2 million community center at the same time.

The rest of the money would have to come from the Friends of the Library as well as other sources. It's unclear whether there will be enough money from other sources to get the project done.

A community center has been proposed to replace the current Community Building in Lions Park. The center would include a library as well as space for the city's Senior Club and banquet-type rooms for the public to rent.

The city council on June 16 got an update of the city's finances. It also finished the process of budget presentations by city department heads.

Fire Chief Lonnie Tormey is requesting an increase in the fire department's 2016 budget. The increase would be used to hire two additional full-time firefighters. With the personnel, the department would staff the department with at least two employees seven days a week, 12 hours per day. On-call staff would cover the remaining shifts.

Also requesting an increase in funding was the parks and public grounds department.

The department's director, Neal Owings, said the additional funds would be used to purchase a vehicle and a seeder/aerator, make improvements to playgrounds in Lions and McLaughlin parks as well as the swimming pool, expand the sidewalks in Lions Park, replace the ramp at the Public Safety Building and install a fence at the old public works building.

The council also heard from Brent Holper, public works superintendent, requesting 2016 budgets for the street, water and sewer departments.

The departments are seeking a number of projects to improve efficiency, Holper said, including improvements to sewer lift stations and the wastewater treatment plant as well as equipment to help with waterline repairs and a $225,000 increase in funds for the street repair program.

The council will continue its consideration of the 2016 budget before it finalizes a spending plan later this summer. A special meeting is planned for 6 p.m. June 23.