No splash pad for South Davis rec center
In a unanimous decision, the Recreation Center Board voted Monday to temporarily cut the pool from plans, saving the over-budget project at least $800,000. Additional cuts totaling $201,203 were made to the budget for furniture, fixtures and equipment.
The cuts bring the total budget for the center to about $17.5 million. Last August, voters in five South Davis cities approved an $18 million bond to build the center.
"I think we made a very good decision," said Paul Rowland, Bountiful city engineer. "They (residents) should know that they will have the premier recreation center in Utah and in the western United States."
While the splash pad won't be built without an additional subsidy or other donation board members said they were "optimistic" that cuts to the furniture, fixtures and equipment budget would not be permanent. The center has a $525,000 contingency budget that will not likely be needed, said Rowland.
Money in that budget could be easily shifted to pay for items in the furnishings budget, according to Bountiful City Manager Tom Hardy.
Ron Mortensen, co-founder of the Davis County watchdog group CitizensForTaxFairness.
org, said he was disappointed with the decision, made less than an hour into Monday's meeting. By cutting the splash pad, board members opened the door for another tax hike, he said.
"I can see them in a year saying, 'We can't have that empty (pool) pad out here.' " Mortensen said. Instead, cuts should have been made to racquetball courts or the overall size of the center, said Hugh Williams, co-founder of CitizensForTaxFairness.org.
The outdoor splash pad was planned to be one of the center's most profitable amenities, according to Williams.
On Tuesday, Aug. 16, members of the South Davis Recreation Center Board will meet again to officially sign a change order for the center's contractor. The meeting will be at the Bountiful City Offices, 790 S. 100 East. The public is invited to attend.
E-mail: nwarburton@desnews.com
Comments
- New lives for pit bulls 11:23 p.m.
- Lobbyist disclosure law hit & miss 11:22 p.m.
- State Am: More than golf for Stimpson 11:14 p.m.
- Sleepy Ridge offers much for many 11:09 p.m.
- Sentencing delayed in con man's case 11:07 p.m.
- Draper Days bronc riding 11:07 p.m.
- Ex-S.L. man pleads guilty in Florida 11:07 p.m.
- 2 W.V. men charged with lewdness 11:06 p.m.
- Defense prepares for murder case 11:05 p.m.
- Utah man gets 51 months for fraud 11:05 p.m.
- LDS seminary principal arrested
- Jazz talking Boozer trade?
- Reactions on Boozer speculation
- Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
- Blazers offer Millsap 4-year deal
- Jazz in back of line for free agents
- A primer for the 6th Potter film
- Okur signs two-year extension
- Jazz won't meet Lopez on Europe trip
- Restaurant destroyed by fire
- Letters: Palin mistreated
142 - LDS seminary principal arrested
142 - Bronco collecting a galaxy of recruits
141 - Jazz talking Boozer trade?
136 - Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
123 - Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
94 - Blazers offer Millsap 4-year deal
88 - Fairness of BCS debated
81 - Chaffetz eyes challenging Bennett
74 - Letters: Single-payer system best
72
As more and more dads are put out of work in this economy, I've been...
The photographs are mysterious, brooding, dark. They show dimples and...
Go Utes! Looks like the tdn are shaping up to have better than MUSS...
We are all inocent until proven GUILTY in this country. We cannot judge the...
Both of these players were looking at BS!!! It's too bad that the Utes are...
Keep one thing in mind as we all cast our ill informed opinions in here -...
I think 8 to 9 million is too steep for Milsap, especially since we'll have...
you know all the non believers from the south can say all they want, really...
Independent of the outcome of this investigation, these serious allegations...
First, when someone says "No one is immune from the adversary. Satan works...
I can only imagine the frustration in Utah over the Blazers signing Millsap....
unless you want to be the laughing stock of the NBA. You are going to get...


You can be the first to comment on this story.