“I feel we at least need to get started. … I would like us to proceed with what our administration and coaches desire,” said ACC Trustees Board Chair Neal Barclay in reference to the college’s proposed new activities center.
Barclay expressed concern that the cost of the project to construct a new facility featuring an indoor track and field was still uncertain and needed clarifying.
“Some of [our] wants may have to disappear due to financial consideration,” Barclay added, and said that this was the case even without a pool entering into the equation, an item not included in ACC’s original building plan.
“We were looking at a project, and a swimming pool was not a part of it,” said ACC President John Masterson.
“I hope people understand,” he said, but added “I think we could still look at that.”
For instance, Masterson mentioned how Thrive Allen County is forming a community action group to look at how construction of a pool as part of the activities center might yet be possible.
“I’d be very pleased” were a group to pursue that opportunity, said Masterson.
He also said that there remained “some hope” on the part of the City of Iola for helping to make what he called “the dream” of a pool into a reality, especially if a strategy were determined so that the city could support the maintenance and sustainability of such a facility.
“Even if we built our facility,” said Barclay, “if [the City or community] wanted to do the pool, we’re not saying that we wouldn’t be willing to share our ground and let them attach the pool to the facility.”
He added, though, that “anything that has to do with the pool, [ACC is] not going to be [financially] responsible for,” whether regarding funds or maintenance.
In reference to the recent public forum regarding the facility, “I don’t regret doing that,” reaching out to the community, added Masterson. “It was a worthwhile discussion. I think it still is.”
“I was really impressed with the number of people that attended, how many people stood up and said they were alumni,” added Barclay.
“We’ll get our committee back together and get talking about how we want to move forward,” said Masterson.
ON ANOTHER topic linked to athletics, athletic director Doug Desmarteau and other coaches received approval from the Board of Trustees to fund two items:
The first was $133,000 to purchase turf for both the baseball and softball fields, build a clubhouse and fence the softball field. This is one-third of the total funds needed for the project.
