Consultant: Funding partnerships key to aquatic center

Funding partnerships often are key to having a viable aquatic center, a consultant told Cape Girardeau Aquatics Facility Committee members Tuesday.

Consultant George Deines with Counsilman-Hunsaker and representatives of partnering firms told the joint city/school committee they have the expertise to help plan for construction of an indoor aquatic center.

�When you get us, all you get is aquatics,� said Deines, who is based out of the firm�s Dallas office.

The company is seeking to handle the planning in conjunction with Incite Design Studio and SWT Design. All three firms have offices in the St. Louis area.

The consultant group is one of three groups seeking to land a contract to guide the planning process.

Committee members are scheduled to hear from the other two groups today.

The six-member committee is comprised of representatives of the city and the Cape Girardeau School District.

The city will pay for the consultant group, whose hiring requires approval from the Cape Girardeau City Council.

At Tuesday�s meeting at the SportsPlex, Deines said the planning will involve an analysis of the aquatics market and community input followed by a final recommendation.

Deines said his firm has completed more than 1,000 aquatics projects and performed more than 300 aquatic studies.

The firm has 48 years of experience, he said.

�Our roots are very much in competitive swimming,� he added.

Deines said the group would look at design elements as well as what would be the best size for an indoor facility here. The planning effort also will evaluate possible sites as well as look at capital and operating costs for such a facility.

Development of sponsorships, such as naming rights to the facility, could boost revenue, he told the committee.

Jay Wohlschlaeger of SWT Design said the planning process will include reaching out to both stakeholders and the general public through meetings and social media.

Incite Design Studio�s Mike Hilmes said there will always be �naysayers� who will oppose the project. But he said the planning process needs to reach out to the entire community.

Deines said it is important to emphasize aquatics is �an essential service.�

A study for an aquatic center to replace the aging Central Municipal Pool could be completed in about 90 days, he told the committee.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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