JACKSON ALDERMEN TO CONSIDER BUILDING COMMUNITY CENTER

JACKSON -- Mayor Paul Sander will ask the Board of Aldermen Monday to endorse formation of a task force to study the feasibility of building a multipurpose community center in the city.

With Jackson's growing population, Sander believes such a facility is needed, and at the very least merits in-depth consideration.

"I think for Jackson it is a pro-active issue, a positive issue and a quality-of-life issue," Sander said.

The Board of Aldermen will vote on the mayor's proposal during its Monday meeting at City Hall. The meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. The public is encouraged to attend and offer comment.

Sander anticipates 30-plus members will constitute the task force, which will be charged with exploring all facets of developing, funding and operating any proposed multipurpose facility. Those interested in serving on the task force should contact staff at City Hall.

Several city aldermen interviewed voiced support for the task force.

"I think it's a very good project that needs to be explored," said Alderman David Ludwig.

Such a facility would be particularly good for the city's youth, Ludwig said, noting that there are few places in town for young people to go for recreation.

Alderman Val Tuschhoff agreed Jackson's younger citizens need someplace in town where they can play sports or engage in other positive activities.

"I think we should have had one years ago," Tuschhoff said.

"I hope the citizens of Jackson feel there is a need for it and give us input on it. If we find the need is not there, we'll scratch the idea."

Alderman Jack Piepenbrok said that at this stage numerous possibilities exist concerning what form any community center proposal could take and how it could impact the city.

"I'm 100 percent for it. It will be exciting to see what comes from the study," Piepenbrok said.

While supporting the mayor's task force, Alderman Larry Cunningham is holding off actually backing a multipurpose center until the matter is thoroughly reviewed.

"If there is enough interest to merit it, I'll probably be in support of it," Cunningham said. "But there are a lot of other things Jackson may need before it needs a convention center."

Sander estimates the task force will complete its work within eight months to one year.

"We hope to move along as fast as possible, but not to get ahead of ourselves," Sander said. "We want to get it done right if we're going to do it."

If the task force concludes a center is needed and has strong public support, the Board of Aldermen would then allocate city funds to hire a consultant to hammer out final details before submitting the proposal to voters.

"I want people to realize this will not happen overnight. On the most optimistic side, it will probably be a year and a half before something can be presented to voters," Sander said.

Although the task force will work out financing details, Sander said a bond issue and some sort of tax to pay for it are almost a certainty.

A multipurpose building could positively impact city businesses, Sander said.

"It could be a very strong incentive for people to start businesses and to expand businesses in Jackson," Sander said.

He also believes it could be a boon for the Jackson School District, providing it with a state-of-the-art facility in which to host district sporting events and other school-related activities.

Sander will collect names of residents interested in serving on the task force through the first week of January. He expects the group to hold an organizational meeting in mid-January and elect a chairman.

While the mayor and several aldermen will serve on the task force, Sander said he doesn't want a city official to lead the group.

"I don't want to cut out elected officials, but I don't want them to be the driving force for the committee," Sander said.

Considering the variety of issues involved, Sander hopes to recruit people with broad and varying backgrounds, including representatives from the Jackson School District, area banks, service clubs, local business owners and the general public.

The task force will divide into a number of sub-committees to study site selection, financing, design, facility uses and other details.