Minutes of the Town Community Center Committee

October 17, 2007

 

Chairperson Brustad called the meeting to order at 6:02PM. Committee members present were Brustad, Lu Peet, George Martin, Chris Webb, Pamela Toshner, and alternate Ron Pearson. 

 

Agenda Items:

 

1)                Approve minutes of the last meeting.  Motion (Ron Pearson/Elaine Brustad) to approve the September 19, 2007 Town Hall Complex Committee meeting minutes.  Motion carried.

 

2)                Standards for civil defense/homeland security (Brustad).  Chairperson Brustad communicated with Bayfield County Emergency Coordinator Jan Victorson who said Barnes is not a designated civil defense location.  A National Incident Command System (NICS) designation requires a kitchen.  To be designated as a civil defense location, there are specific building requirements.  A question arose:  Are federal grants and support available as a result of this designation?

 

3)                Determine total square footage of current building (Martin).  Martin did not have a chance to measure the square footage of the entire building, including the kitchen and restrooms.

 

4)                Review how current facilities compare to other Towns with similar population and tax base (Toshner).  Toshner shared a spreadsheet that she put together, which listed area town halls and community centers, costs, amenities, and other information.  The group discussed the spreadsheet, including identifying some errors.  The Solon Springs Community Center is comparable to the vision for the Barnes building, and the committee will try to tour it in the future.  Chairperson Brustad was going to tour the Drummond Community Center the following Friday.

 

5)                How does the public view the current facility? e.g. historical significance, location.  Pearson informally surveyed about 30 people, and only 2 or 3 said not to tear down the existing Town Hall.  The bulk of the interviewees wanted a senior center that would include an exercise room and kitchen.  A handful wanted a pool.  Many people wanted a library, but it wouldn’t have to be a full library and instead could be something like the Northern Waters library.  A facility with a computer kiosk and lending library would be fine.  Many people wanted a learning center.  Chairperson Brustad has also heard from folks who would like an exercise room.  Peet thought people wanted an exercise room, swimming pool, and walking trail.  There was discussion about the purpose of a swimming pool in a lake-rich area. 

 

6)                “Town Community Center” or “Town Hall”?  The committee agreed that people are more supportive of a new community center than a new Town Hall.  Furthermore, the committee and public vision of the building is more akin to a community center with town offices than only a Town Hall.  Motion (Elaine Brustad/Lu Peet) that the committee title and purpose be changed from the “Town Hall Complex Committee” to the “Town Community Center Committee” and that future discussions address a community center, which may include office space, library, senior center, etc.  Motion carried.

 

Conclusion of Phase I of Town Community Center Committee:

1)                A majority of the Committee feels that the current building is inadequate for current needs and that modifications are cost-prohibitive to meet those needs. 

2)                The existing building should not continue to be used because the majority of the Committee believes a new Community Center better meets the needs that have been expressed by the public.

 

Agenda Items for Next Meeting at 6:00 p.m. on January 8, 2008.

1)                Approve minutes of the last meeting

2)                Begin Phase  2:  Provide direction to the Town Board about building a new Community Center (all members should consider/research the following list for the January meeting)

A.  Identify stakeholders

B.  Identify improvements

C.  Identify separate areas needed for specific use

D.  Alternatives for current building

E.  Additional uses for community center

F.  Location

G.  Size

H.  Public needs

3)        Develop Phase 2 Conclusions

 

Motion (Ron Pearson/George Martin) to adjourn the fourth meeting of the Town Community Center Committee. Motion carried.  The meeting adjourned at 7:15PM

 

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

 

Pamela Toshner,

Secretary for the Committee

Dated this 13th day of November, 2007