March 6, 2008
On April 1st the voters of Wellman will decide whether or not the City will enter into a loan agreement to fulfill its pledge of support to the Parkside Activities Center. The Parkside project is a $5.8 million City owned facility that includes a modern childcare center for around 70 children, a community room that seats greater than 300, a basketball court, elevated walking track, and workout center. Nearly $4 million of the cost of this facility (about 70 %) has come from grants and individuals outside of Wellman. The City of Wellman passed a resolution last year committing $1 million towards this project, with a loan being repaid with money coming from TIF, Local Option Sales Tax and Riverboat Foundation funds that the City receives. The City has contracted with the Washington YMCA to operate this facility. The Y would run this facility the same way and with the same mission that they operate facilities across the country.
The biggest concern I have heard regarding this project is that the City will be raising property taxes to pay for it. The Council has never considered raising taxes to fund this project. It has always been thought that TIF funds would be used for this project. When our original TIF district was created in 1994, one of the reasons given to the State to create it was that the funds generated could be used to build a recreation center. TIF funds are not additional taxes, they are a portion of the normal property taxes paid from within a specific area of town (the TIF district) that must be used for economic development projects within that area.
Another concern I have heard involved using TIF funds for this project when other infrastructure needs could be addressed with these funds. First, TIF funds can only be used for infrastructure improvements within the TIF district, like the recent 9th Ave. street project. Secondly, experts have stated that TIF funds should be utilized for projects that create economic activity and promote economic development. Projects like the Parkside Activities Center would certainly do that. The City is currently working on a Capital Improvements Plan that will include repairing and replacing our aged infrastructure. It will be determined what grants are available to help fund these projects, along with what combination of state “road use tax”, water and sewer revenue, and TIF funds (if they apply) should be utilized to fund these improvements.
I will leave this decision for you to make, for now you will have the opportunity to have your voice be heard and you will help decide the future of Wellman! A “yes” vote means that you want the City to enter into a loan agreement to support this project. This support would help leverage $4 million from outside of our community to provide Wellman with a state of the art facility that fills many needs of the community and will be something that brings people to Wellman as well as provides the amenities that will keep families from moving out of Wellman. Please remember that without City support, most of the $4 million pledged from outside our community would most likely be withdrawn. A “no” vote means that you do not want the City to enter into a $1,000,000 loan agreement to support this facility. This election may very well affect Wellman for generations, so please make a decision that you feel is in the best interest of the future of our community!
Ryan Miller
For further information regarding this story, contact Allen Leichty, Tom Buckwalter, Marty Van Roekel, Bob Freeman, Pat Freeman, Susan McClellen, Kim Stout, or Kris Kaalberg.
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