09.11.07
The Community Cultural Center Discussion
By Peggy Schlichter
Mr. Tom Smull provided the council with yet more information on how the Community Cultural Center will benefit the town. Using an example from Independence,Iowa called Heartland Acres. Independence was looking for a way to increase tourism and decided on using Agriculture and Agri-Business as their theme. They built a cultural center on to the attraction even though they already had two other buildings which provided services for weddings and other community activities at a cost of $2.3 M. It was funded by $750 K form the city, $750 K from the utilities as a grant and $750 K from a Vision Iowa Grant. The building has been operational now for several months and they already have a wedding booked every weekend from now into 2009. For each event they have scheduled they make an average of $3,100 and spend on average of $150 for a crew to clean up. Independence used outsourced catering which is what they had planned to do here along with helping incubate new companies here to provide other services. Mr. Smull provided the council with an updated budget based on this new information and revised the number of weddings to 25 per year even though he feels they will do better than that. He has talked to the school and they are very supportive in working out an agreement to use the auditorium and pay rent. He pointed out that based on this example it proves that a activity center like this will be very successful and beneficial to the town.
The Ruan Securities repersentative then presented some funding options that will use TIF monies, if available, which would not cause a tax increase but leaves $1.3 M in General Obligation Bonds to complete the funding. This project will be included during the Wednesday Special Meeting which is to discuss funding options for city hall, library and police station since the council must decide before September 20th what projects and funding will be on the November Ballot.
The Eagle Scout Service Project Funding Request was not discussed. No representatives were present at the meeting.
Anonymous said,
September 11, 2007 at 4:46 pm
OK, how many of us here is Stuart and surrounding communities would pay 3,000 + for a place to hold a wedding? What is the rental amount they can count on for the school to “rent” an auditorium. What happens when the weddings are held in churches, (who are planning additions, I might add) and the school events are held in a new auditorium if we are ever to get a school built? Are any of these guys thinking ahead or just flying by the seat of their pants like usual. Spend now and pay later is the way with so many of the younger generation, and I don’t doubt that it exists in the newer council members, more. The planning of lack of it just runs rampant. This would be gross negligence. The only comment would be at this time in addition, is that thank God some of the spending has to go to a vote.
Anonymous said,
September 11, 2007 at 9:16 pm
the earlham community center is only 150- $ 200 and is plenty nice so why would anyone spend anywhere close to $3000. I hate to say it but they should have torn the eyesore down 10 years ago!
anon2 said,
September 11, 2007 at 10:39 pm
I find it interesting to check things out before getting all uptight and psycho. Independence Iowa pop. 6000+ is a tourist destination. Heartland Acres was pretty much a dream for them as little as four years ago. It sits on 80 acres and is an Agribition and event center. They have three rooms that each seat 175 and the 4th seats 500. There are exhibits and they are booked up for events into the future. There is a nominal admission price and I’m sure many rentals are less than $3000. That was just an average. Check out their website. You might want to visit someday and there are a lot of area attractions surrounding it. heartlandacresusa.com
anon2 said,
September 11, 2007 at 10:43 pm
Sorry, but as a follow-up, I am thinking this would really be a draw to bring people into our town for special occasions when they want to do something different and yet we would rather spend our money on a walk/bike trail that will go nowhere. Won’t even connect to another trail or give anyone anything particularly beautiful or unusual to see.
Anonymous said,
September 11, 2007 at 11:39 pm
9:16pm- Why would anyone spend $3000 for a wedding and reception? Well it sounds as if quite a few people are doing just that in Independence, Iowa. They are booked up for weddings to 2009. Are these couples from Independence? Probably not, that’s the general idea to bring people into town to enhance the economy. Another wedding destination is the Little Brown Church, ask anyone who was married there how much they paid to be in the church for under 20 minuets.
Anonymous said,
September 12, 2007 at 12:47 am
4:46
Who said weddings at the Center would replace weddings at local churches? I believe their main market will be those from out of town.
If and when a new school is built there are no plans for an auditorium.
anonymous said,
September 13, 2007 at 11:51 am
In the school architect drawing, there is an auditorium. Because of the cost they opted not to promote this at their last election, but it will come at a later date.