by Logan Gruber
operations@thenewsleaders.com
The St. Joseph City Council voted 3-2 against testing soil at a possible site for the water amenity along CR 133 during it’s July 20 meeting.
The site the water amenity committee has tentatively agreed would be a good location has some wet lowlands that may be of concern to build upon. Council members Dale Wick and Matt Killam both supported doing soil testing early. The testing could cost up to $8,000.
Council member Bob Loso said before he could support soil testing, he would like to see significant fundraising underway. The city is hoping to raise $1.2 million through fundraising for the water park. During a previous meeting, Wick said less than $20,000 has been raised so far.
Mayor Rick Schultz and council member Renee Symanietz also thought soil testing could be done further along in the project, and voted against it with Loso.
Background
Back on April 6, the city council chose to approve and move forward on the documents presented by Tom Schaffer of USAquatics. The total cost of the water amenity is estimated at $6.14 million, with operating costs estimated at $254,000 annually. A study proposes charging $6 per entry.
The park would likely be open for 105 days from Memorial to Labor Day weekend. The facility is projected to bring in just more than $285,000 per year if it’s open for 78 days in the summer, meaning the park would still be viable if there were 27 weather closings per year, and attendance meets expectations.
Included in the concept are a multi-use pool with one- and three-meter diving boards; grassy lounge areas; a lazy river; three water slides; rental tents; water geysers and an aqua fort on a splash pad; a covered seating area; changing rooms; a concession stand; a zip line; and shade structures. The design also calls for heated water.
The preferred site chosen by the committee for the water amenity is north of Hwy 75 on CR 133, though no land purchases have been made. Soil sampling may be conducted in the future, but a final site has not been chosen.
Regular city council meetings are held at 6 p.m. the first and third Mondays of the month in the council chambers at city hall, 25 College Ave. N. These meetings are open to the public, and a public hearing for any topic a citizen might want to speak about before the council is held near the beginning of every meeting. The meetings are also broadcast live on the city’s cable access channel on Charter at channel 181 and on Midcontinent at channel 10. Agendas and meeting minutes may be viewed at city hall, or online at cityofstjoseph.com.
