Recreation District expansion to be discussed publicly Monday

MONTROSE — A Montrose County-hosted forum Monday night regarding the Montrose Recreation District’s intentions for expansion is planned to include a diversity of opinions.

“We’ll see all vantage points, I think,” MRD Executive Director Dean Palmquist said.

A panel of speakers, each with unique perspectives, will discuss expansion options and feasibility. A moderator will be present and the public will be encouraged to share as well. The discussion will follow an informational presentation of 45 minutes to an hour.

It will occur in the Montrose County Administration building’s board room, starting at 6 p.m.

Tax increases to finance the district’s expansion have twice been voted down in recent years. In November, a ballot initiative for a public contribution of $5 million toward a 30,000-square-foot expansion of the Aquatic Center did not pass. District staff have since been working to find grants and explore possibilities.

The Colorado Department of Local Affairs was prepared to give the district a $500,000 Energy and Mineral Impact Assistance Grant pending approval of the ballot initiative in November. Palmquist had hoped to have the offer extended until the district could come up with another proposal.

“They asked us to reapply,” he said. “They basically said, ‘Your election wasn’t successful. We’re going to have to terminate the contract.’”

He said the district is keeping its options open as far as whether the next proposal will also involve an Aquatic Center expansion or perhaps a standalone facility, and that it’s possible a proposal will be on the ballot this November.

He said he intends to discuss Monday the district’s needs, who will benefit and what options are currently under review.

Montrose resident Joe Bagnara will present an opposing viewpoint to the Aquatic Center expansion Monday.

“The whole purpose of the recreation district, theoretically, is to provide a place for kids to be involved,” Bagnara said. “The kids who need it most can’t afford to pay for recreation district offerings.”

He said that using tax money to pay for facilities that require additional fees for their services creates a situation where the benefits aren’t available to folks of lower income.

“The burden’s gonna fall on everybody, but everybody’s not gonna be able to take advantage of it and that’s not fair.”

Bagnara has compiled opposition he’s received and written a “position paper” that cites this and many other reasons against the expansion.

Richard Harding will also participate in the panel. He was part of the successful Montrose Citizens for Funding Our Future campaign that helped pass ballot measures in the last election to increase taxes in support of public safety and roads. He presented the Aquatic Center expansion proposal to Painted Sky Resource Conservation and Development Council, an entity that helps find grants.

“I hate funding recreation facilities with tax dollars because there’s so much grant money out there,” Harding said.

The 55,000 square-foot Bill Heddles Recreation Center in Delta was financed through the help of a 1 percent sales tax. Former Delta Parks and Recreation Director Rich Englehart said it cost about $3.1 million when it was built in 1991.

“That place is rocking all the time,” Englehart said. “These public facilities are very well supported. I wish them (MRD) luck.”

One of the problems the Montrose Recreation District faces is that it must rent space around town to host many of its activities. The Delta center hosts many of the same activities, all under one roof.

Contact Robert Allen via e-mail at roberta@montrosepress.com