CONWAY -- The City Council ended about 2½ months of discussion Tuesday night by voting unanimously against buying a vacant building on Conway's west side to convert into a community center with a swimming pool and tennis courts.
Some of the aldermen commended Mayor Tab Townsell for broaching the discussion and said the City Council should quickly begin the search for a suitable location for a public pool inasmuch as the city of roughly 64,000 residents does not offer one now.
The vote followed a committee meeting in which the City Council again listened to audience members comment on the proposal -- most, if not all, against it.
The vote was a setback to Townsell, who had urged aldermen to support a $3.5 million purchase of the 220,000-square-foot building, which formerly housed a mobile-home manufacturing business, and the 22 acres it sits on near Dave Ward Drive.
Alderman Mark Ledbetter said, "We need to start tomorrow looking for a place" for a public pool -- a position echoed by Alderman David Grimes.
The aldermen's increasing concerns about the proposal became evident last week after a representative of Nabholz Construction Services told them it would cost $40 million to build a community center with aquatic facilities from scratch and that it would cost more than $34 million to convert the mobile-home site, owned by Cavalier Home Builders LLC.
The $34 million figure did not include an undetermined amount of structural work that Nabholz said would be necessary to bring the building up to construction standards.
The city had put down $100,000 in earnest money for the property. Under an agreement with Cavalier, the city will get that money back.
Suggestions for the indoor recreational center had included an Olympic-size pool suitable for competitions, a spectator area, a therapy pool, a splash area, indoor tennis courts, and meeting and party rooms that could be rented.
At least two audience members said they favored a swimming pool but that the city should build a less expensive one -- one aimed primarily at serving its residents. One man said it would be better for the city to build what it wants than to try to redo an old building.
Alderman Shelley Mehl said she "was very pleased that everyone who stood up recognized that there is a pool need."
"I think the City Council is committed" to finding the right location for one, she said.
Alderman Sheila Whitmore mentioned the public's support for a pool and indoor tennis courts.
"I think now is the time for us to address those needs," she said.
Alderman Andy Hawkins said he thought further study was needed.
"I want to say I appreciate the mayor shooting for the moon. I'm not sure" this is the right one, though, Hawkins said.
State Desk on 06/24/2015