Proposed community center cost jumps $5.5M with pool
Estimated insurance would add another $10K with swimming area, lifeguard and operator
Merrillville officials got a look at what a community center might look like.
Merrillville Parks Director Jan Orlich presented the Town Council with a rendering of the proposed community center, a modern building incorporating Merrillville High School Pirate purple on the exterior that’s estimated to cost $20 million to $24 million without a pool.
Orlich said the consultant for the proposed project, American Structurepoint, estimated the cost would be increased by about $5.5 million if a four-lane lap pool and hybrid warm water pool for aerobic exercises were added, in addition to a higher insurance rate and the cost of a lifeguard and mandatory pool operator.
She said American Structurepoint estimated insurance to operate the building at about $28,500 a year, with another $10,000 a year added if the pools were included.
“A couple of people are adamant that we should have a pool. It’s a no-brainer if you can find the funding for it,” Orlich said Tuesday.
She suggested the town instead work with Merrillville School Corp. to use the high school pool for town swim programs.
She said about 70 individuals indicated in a survey that they would like to have a pool for adult and child swim lessons, water aerobics and other uses.
Town Attorney Joseph Svetanoff asked Orlich to obtain revised numbers on insurance and the actual costs of operational maintenance and construction of a pool from American Structurepoint.
“This way we can determine how much it would actually cost,” he said.
The town has already ap- proved spending $660,000 for several parcels of land at or around 6700 Broadway — the site of the former Y&W DriveIn — where the community center would be located.
An additional $1,700 will be spent on an environmental study of the 28 acres.
Councilman Jeff Minchuk, D-3rd, said if it’s determined a pool isn’t feasible there might be alternatives, such as an outside splash pad.
The town will seek donations from local businesses and others to help pay for the community center, but Orlich said there are some grants that might be available to help defray the cost. She said a $500,000 grant is available for community rooms, with the town’s required portion being 10 percent.
“The tricky thing is, with some grants you need to build within ‘X’ amount of time,” she said.
Orlich said a health organization may want to support a pool at the center, if it’s also used for its patients’ rehab purposes.
She said her next step is to meet with Town Manager Bruce Spires to discuss possible avenues for grants.
Council President Richard Hardaway, D -2nd, said he doesn’t know when the fundraising effort will begin.
“We need to know exactly how much it will cost us,” he said.
He said Orlich and her committee are taking their time and doing their due diligence on the project.
“This project is too important. As we continue with this endeavor, we need to do everything right,” he said.