DEAR PROBE

What do you want to know?

Q

Before Imperial’s City Manager Marlene Best left office, there was a lot of commotion about a proposed sports complex/equestrian center. I was wondering if that has been nixed now that Mrs. Best is gone or are plans still in motion for that to happen? — Resident, Imperial

A

Imperial Interim City Manager Jorge Galvan said the equestrian center is still moving forward. He said the city applied to some grant funding from the state and finalized some of the state’s requirements like cultural resources clearance from the state’s Native American Heritage Commission.

“We should be able to access $750,000 by the end of the month,” Galvan said. “It’s not a lot of money, but it should allow us to do a little bit of grading work and bring in some utilities to the site.”

The city has been moving forward with the project since 2006 and been moving along slowly, not because of the desire by the city but because of funding and the needed paperwork and permits required by the state.

The city estimates it will cost about $60 million for the entire project and already had $1.2 million aside for the start of the project. The city will look to keep applying for state and federal grants as they become available to further finance the project.

The project is currently in the first phase, which has some basic construction such as some fencing, clearing and preliminary grating of the park area.

The second phase will include making final connections with the infra-structure such as plumbing and electrical connections as well as continue constructing the parking lots and roadways.

The third phase will include finalizing the equestrian center and adding “green space” and playground equipment. The final phase will include the Sportsplex but both final phases are interchangeable.

Galvan had previously said the city is optimistic it would be finalized in 2020.