CITY SURVEY WILL COVER MULTI-PURPOSE BUILDING

JACKSON -- In a few days Jackson residents may find something new in their mailboxes.

The city's multi-purpose building feasibility committee has recently compiled a survey, which the committee hopes will clarify residents'views on whether they want a multi-purpose facility.

Dale Rauh, chairman of the executive committee for the study, said the survey features questions.

"We want to know if the residents of Jackson want a multi-purpose building," he said. "And if they say yes, then what are the programs and facilities they want in the building?"

He said the building could contain anything from a performing arts center, meeting rooms, track to a pool depending on what the community wants.

"I have a lot of interest in sports and performing arts. I would like to see a nice facility like this in our area," he said.

Rauh said he would also like to see the schools use the building.

"The schools could use the building for many purposes; with a pool they could have a swim team," he said.

The feasibility committee for the building was the brainchild of Mayor Paul Sander.

"I've heard for over five years, `Why don't we have a multi-purpose building?' We could talk about it for another 15 years, but I thought it was time to do something about it," Sander said.

He said the committee is now at the point where they need the input from residents.

"We want to clear up what they really want and let it go to a public vote," Sander said.

Rauh said that once the committee knows what program components the residents want, then a cost estimate can be done.

"There is a finance committee in place who will study the cost of construction. They will look at private and public funding," he said.

Rauh said one question on the survey will ask residents if they would support a sales tax, property tax or other types of financing for the building. He said he preferred not to release the exact wording of the other eight questions until the actually survey is mailed.

All committee members of the feasibility study are volunteers. Rauh said the only cost to the city at this time will be the cost of mailing the surveys.

Sander said the fate of the building will be ultimately up to Jackson voters.

"If the public says they overwhelming don't want it, we will forget it," he said. "If they want it, we will take it to the voters."

Sander said a public vote on a building plan would come no earlier than next April.