Lack of motion kills funding request

Meadow Vista Community Center organizers will have to look beyond the Auburn Recreation District for $900,000 they need to complete the ongoing project.The ARD board of directors failed to approve a request by the Meadow Vista Community Center board of directors for $100,000 in mitigation funds to complete work on the center after the call for money died for lack of a motion.Directors Gordon Ainsleigh and Jim Gray were absent.Construction on the center has hit a wall and organizers say they need roughly $900,000 to complete the community space, but only have $7,000 in its construction fund."I am not going to approve any funding until I see an end of the rainbow," said Director Scott Holbrook. "And not until we have a plan in place."First conceptualized 30 years ago, the Meadow Vista Community Center languished in support and funding until grants started trickling in. But community board members say they went ahead with the project despite not having all the funding. ARD alone has contributed $92,000 to the project since 2003.Holbrook said in a copy of the "Meadow Vista Community Center News" claims were made that Meadow Vista has been "short changed" by the board and that the board emphasizes the "half-empty glass" when it comes to the community center."ARD has been working with the volunteers that set up the Meadow Vista Community Center for years," Holbrook said. "I don't know who wrote (the newsletter) but as a board member that has sat here for eight or nine years, that really, really, really hurt."Representatives of the Meadow Vista Community Center board said they are eager to get the center completed, and need ARD's help to do so."We are really interested in getting this project completed," said board member Fred Eichenhofer. "And this would be a step in the right direction." Eichenhofer said the board wants to pay for the entire project in cash, without financing so that once completed, the facility will be debt free.When completed, the $1.3 million 7,300-square-foot community center will feature a kitchen, three meeting spaces, youth room, a permanent stage and dance floor.The center, which will have an occupancy rate of 250, will be rented on a sliding fee to residents, nonprofit organizations and businesses. Jimmy Carroll, ARD board chairman, said after the vote that he would be willing to work with the community center board and apologized the for the board's lack of a vote on the matter."I have a gut wrought in my stomach right now for your plight," Carroll said. "I am not opposed to coming in at a lower figure. I don't want to shell the building up and we will try to get something done. I can't promise anything, but my apologies." In other business Thursday night, the board voted 3-0 to award a bid contract in the amount of $148, 249.47 to Gabe Mendez, Inc. of Newcastle to build tennis courts at Regional Park.The board also voted 3-0 to approve a five percent cost of living adjustment for non-union employees.Sheryl Petersen, ARD recreation services manager, also presented an employee of the month award to sports coordinator Jerry Fisher and recognized him for his work at the 2007 Ms. October tournament.Fisher and his volunteers helped raise $5,055.59 at this year's tournament which will go into ARD's youth assistance fund.Fisher in turn presented volunteer of the month awards to Stacy Linton and Scott Talley for their help with the tournament."With the help they provided, we had one of the most successful tournaments we've ever had," Fisher said. "We couldn't have done it without them."The Journal's Jenna Nielsen can be reached at jennan@goldcountrymedia.com or comment on this story at auburnjournal.com.