Two Iola men who want to establish an interactive sports complex here will know Dec. 4 whether they have a building. JODY MADER, a supervisor at the 911 dispatch center, and Angie Murphy, its director, gave commissioners a brief review of their efforts to educate youngsters about 911 and how to use the emergency response system.
Allen County commissioners said Tuesday morning they would offer the old warehouse the county owns in the 400 block of North State Street to Rick Vink and Dennis Sullivan. The only holdup is whether someone else is more interested.
The deal commissioners offered is for Vink and Sullivan to pay monthly rent of $500, repair the building’s roof and make other improvements and then purchase it for $40,000 after two years.
Commissioners said they felt compelled over the next two weeks to make the building available to anyone, before completing a deal.
Vink and Sullivan verbally agreed to the terms late Tuesday morning.
If someone steps up with a better offer, County Counselor Alan Weber said, “I don’t know how you could get around not taking it.”
Vink and Sullivan intend to put computerized interactive baseball and softball apparatus in the warehouse, which they think will draw a clientele from a wide area. They noted more than 40 traveling teams for the two sports play much of the year and would welcome an opportunity for players to hone their skills within the latest high-tech atmosphere.
They will offer special sessions for teams and individuals, and have means of identifying and correcting flaws in players’ skills.
Other sports may be involved. Vink mentioned golf.
Prices for rent and the building were agreed upon after Weber told commissioners John Brocker, an Iola real estate agent, had appraised the warehouse at $32,000 and suggested rent should be $700 a month. Commissioners thought the building’s value would increase with improvements and, in concession to work anticipated, put rent at $500.
Murphy said 455 students in Iola, 86 in Moran and 159 in Humboldt have participated in safety seminars during the past year.
“Jody did a good job of explaining to the children how 911 works and how crank calls could end up hurting someone,” Murphy said.
She said about $200 was spent on educational materials, and that sessions also involved preschool children.
“If what we did saves one life, it will have been well worth the effort,” she added.
A surprise, said Mader, was that many children didn’t know how to use a conventional telephone, that they knew only about cell phones.
“We also stressed to the kids they need to know their address and give it to the dispatcher if they have to call 911,” Murphy said.
Commissioners offer deal on warehouse
