Orange County NC Website
perspective, the Sportsplex was aten-year old building and that the facility was operating at a <br />loss. She noted that the ice rink was also losing money so it was not subsidizing the swimming <br />pools. <br />Continuation of presentation (benchmark comparisons in booklet) and then the <br />PowerPoint above. <br />PUBLIC COMMENT: <br />Betty Eidenier spoke on behalf of the Friends of the Central Orange Senior Center. <br />She said that they endorse the idea of putting the senior center at the Sportsplex. <br />Ken Redfoot went over the general outline of the building. The senior center is about <br />15,600 square feet. Some of it is part of the existing building and would require some <br />renovation. The addition would total 10,675 square feet. In the large lobby area, there are <br />some inefficiencies that can be capitalized on. An aerobics room can be introduced as well as <br />some modifications to the existing area to allow for better use of this space. The additional <br />space in the Sportsplex besides the dedicated senior center space would be shared facility <br />space. <br />Commissioner Halkiotis made reference to schedule two in the Blackman and Sloop <br />report and asked how big of a pool surface area he was talking about compared to what is <br />there right now. It was answered a 50-yard pool. He said that the County has always known <br />that it would cost about $400,000 for a pool, and it does not pay for itself. <br />Commissioner Gordon asked about the benchmark figures and said that it does not <br />mention debt service. Finance Director Ken Chavious said that none of the numbers for the <br />pools include debt service, because they are lumped in with other things. <br />John Link made reference to slide 23 -Combined Facility Analysis Senior Center <br />Addition. He asked if the $1.09 million included the operation of the senior center in terms of <br />programming and Jeff Thompson said no. This figure includes everything but costs related to <br />senior center programming. John Link said that "recreation programming" could include part of <br />the operation of the pool and the ice rink. <br />Rod Visser said that they were trying to emphasize the point that programming related <br />to the senior center would be provided by the Orange County Department on Aging. <br />Contracting for recreation programming is an additional follow-up step that the County would <br />have to take. <br />John Link said that their recommendation is that the Board proceed with steps to <br />acquire the Sportsplex. <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Jacobs, seconded by Commissioner Foushee to <br />pursue acquisition of the Triangle Sportsplex, and adopt the accompanying resolution that will <br />provide specific direction to the Manager, staff, and Attorney on how to proceed. <br />Commissioner Gordon thinks the Sportsplex and Senior Center combination would be a <br />great amenity for county citizens, and she thinks the County just needs to negotiate this <br />successfully. Her major concern is that they get a good deal from Eaton Vance. She wants to <br />make sure that at some point the Board will go into closed session to discuss the material <br />terms of the contract. John Link said that would be the process. <br />Chair Carey said that staff would bring each of the agreements back to the Board at the <br />appropriate time. <br />