City committee supports sales-tax funds for park, MSU sports facilities

A city committee is recommending spending up to $6.25 million from a sales-tax fund on repairs to the park district's baseball fields and enhancements to Minot State University's Dome and football field project.

The money would come from a percentage of a city sales tax dedicated by voters to community facilities.

The amount of the MSU request $6 million over five years gave some on the Minot City Council's Finance and Improvements Committee pause.

"This is a lot of money for a lot of years," Alderman Larry Frey said of the $1.2 million annual request. "Minot State is a very important facility in Minot, but I realize we have other community facilities that might need some money."

He noted damage in Minot Public School District as an example.

"I can't see spending $2 million in a video scoring system when we have schools for younger people in bad need of repair that should be coming before this board to ask for assistance," he said.

MSU officials clarified that the $2 million is for a seasonal bubble as well as a state-of-the art video scoreboard with graphics at Herb Park Stadium. That $2 million is being privately raised. No sales tax money would go to that part of the project, they said.

Rather, MSU is asking for $4 million to enhance work already being done on the stadium. It would pay for construction of a press box, concessions, ticketing facility, lobby, community meeting area, merchandising area, coaches' boxes, suites, restrooms and landscaping. Work would begin in the fall and finish in late summer of 2013.

The $2 million for the Dome would replace 30-year-old seating, install a video scoreboard with graphics package and revamp the second floor to include an egress area and food court

Sports facilities on campus aren't eligible for state funding. MSU president David Fuller said the university has used its own funds to construct stadium seating and make field improvements but needs additional money to complete other aspects of the project.

He noted that MSU has a $135 million annual economic impact in Minot.

"Minot State is a key player in this community in many ways," he said. "We do everything that we can to provide a good service and to be good partners to this community."

Rick Hedberg, athletic director, said MSU's sports facilities drew 200,000 visitors in 2010. High school sporting events hosted by MSU in 2010 had a $17 million economic impact. An investment in the facilities will pay off in increased sales tax collections, he said.

The improvements also are needed to remain competitive with other communities that are investing in their sports facilities, he said.

"This is more than just a Minot State project. This is something we think can enhance our city, our region," Hedberg said. "We think this is an investment in our community, in our young people."

The sales-tax measure dedicates 30 percent of the 1 percent tax to community facilities. Cindy Hemphill, city finance director, estimated that the 30 percent will raise $2.8 million in 2012. Although it is difficult to project income in future years, she said, it appears funding the MSU request would still leave about $1.6 million for other projects each year. The fund currently has about $632,309.

With that information, the committee approved the request without a dissenting vote, as it did the funding request from the park district.

The park district sustained flood damage to the Jack Hoeven baseball complex and Corbett Field. Structures are eligible for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency but grass replacement is not. The $250,000 request is to prepare and sod the five fields.

The committee's recommendation will go to the city council Monday.

The committee also is recommending the city proceed with improvements to the landfill road, or 20th Avenue Southwest from 22nd to 28th Street. The $2.2 million cost estimate is based on a three-lane collector roadway to include curb and gutter, street lighting, sidewalk and storm sewer. The city would set up a special assessment district, but because the road will be built up beyond the specifications of a city street to handle truck traffic, the city will pick up about $358,000 of the cost.

In addition, the committee is recommending:

a letter of support and sponsorship of Community Development Block Grant funding for an affordable, 64-unit townhouse project proposed by Beyond Shelter on 18th Avenue Southeast.

a request for state funding to create a Community Land Trust and establish an affordable housing project, as recommended by the Minot Flood Recovery Committee.

completion of a traffic study recommended by the Flood Recovery Committee and a pay plan study suggested by the human resources department.

Source: http://www.minotdailynews.com/page/content.detail/id/561799.html

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