Many of the comments indicated that the Altus High School Library is too small to suit the needs of the current number of seniors using the Wilson facility. Bob Jones said the facility doesn't need to be fancy, just larger. Some pointed out that the number of seniors will increase as baby boomers age. One woman remarked that just because people are older or retired does not mean they are inactive. Many people, she said, want to be able to do more activities in our community. Parking and sidewalks at the Wilson Center make it hard to access, according to many audience members.
Vicki Davis and others brought up questions regarding the parking situation near the high school. There are too few parking places now, some remarked. Bobby Hubert asked if there's been a traffic study on Park Lane at 8 a.m, 12 noon, and 3 p.m. He said "if the 18 year-olds and the 60 year-olds got tangled up, it would be a mess."
One of the main reasons the mayor and council had invited the community was to help get an idea of the purpose of the center. Mike Nettles, City Administrator, said he'd been focusing on the building when he suddenly realized the building should be based on the programs offered. Those suggestions should come from those who will use the building.
One big desire from the audience is that the center have a dance floor, preferably a wooden one. Members in the audience mentioned various dance groups who participate in ballroom dancing, line dancing, and square dancing to name a few.There are so many different dance groups here, and so few facilities, that some have started going out of town for this fun physical activity. The dances held in Cooperton include family fun and potluck dinners which are coordinated by a volunteer team.
When dances are held here in town, the retirement homes and nursing facilities also bring people to enjoy the music and watching others dance, even if they are no longer able to dance. Jones requested the facility have an electronic music system that looks like an old fashioned jukebox.
Pat Schnur said he and some others are forming a pinocle club and said a card or game room in the facility would benefit the community. Some people are having to pay to play cards in our community. Some would like to play dominoes too. Mayor Gramling assured the audience that a card room would be available in the new facility.
Jan Oden asked the council the specific language of the MAPS resolution. Does it require the use of the library for the center, or does it allow for other construction? An explanation of the MAPS project ensued. "We've taken in $24 million," Council member Jack Smiley said. Nettles explained the funds are to be spent 50-50, on the schools and on the City. Of the 3 City projects, one being the City Complex, the Senior Center and a jobs creation project (an east side industrial park), the first 2 are going to be completed. The City has enough to pay for the high school renovation (about $12.86 million), the City Complex ($8.5 million) and probably the Sr. Center ($1.5 million) right now. We are not bound by time factors. The MAPS wording does not specify that the City has to renovate the AHS library.
MAPS allows the City to borrow up to $34 million which will be paid back by the 1 3/4 percent sales tax. But declining sales tax figures are of concern to Smiley. He said he was playing Devil's advocate, but "I don't want to borrow another $10 million until we know where the economy's going," Smiley said.
Gramling said that "Superintendent Drury said the City may not get the building (library) until 2012, plus there'd be a year construction time." So if the library was renovated, it would be at least 3 years out.
Council member Scot Simco made a motion that Mayor Gramling appoint a committee to coordinate information on the Senior Center. This will be brought before the council at the next meeting.
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