VOTE SATURDAY, MAY 4TH - FOR THE CAIN CENTER REFERENDUM
- Marie Hickman
- Apr 25, 2019
- 2 min read
Updated: Nov 15, 2019
VOTE SATURDAY, MAY 4TH FOR THE CAIN CENTER REFERENDUM
for a Restored and Improved Cain Center
to be Rejuvenated for the Athens/Henderson County Community with
NO NEW TAXES
FACTS:
Estimated Cost as determined by the Cain Center Steering Committee by and through an attempt to “Live within our means” (A savings of approximately $2,000,000 from original estimate) - - - $6,125,000.00
Grants by the Cain Foundation ($2,500,000) and the Ginger Murchison Foundation ($2,500,000) - Grants are subject to formal agreements being completed - For a Total Grant of $5,000,000 to go toward construction.
Estimated Actual Cost of Construction to the City of Athens - - - $1,125,000.00
Operation & Use - Community share holders were consulted to study needs, desires, new usages and ideas. Community leaders from the City of Athens, Henderson County, Athens Independent School District, Trinity Valley Community College, Churches, East Texas Medical Center and Regional Communities, UT Health Center and other businesses were consulted to map a new direction for the Cain Center.
Result (Under Steering Committee’s Recommendations to the City of Athens):
City of Athens operates and staffs
Preserve the competitive lap pool for competitions and exercise
Add a water park feature “WIBIT” to be utilized in lap pool area
Create a therapy pool/learning to swim pool room
Create new party rooms adjacent and at pool level
New fresh look and major updating of all needed equipment and systems including locker rooms and bathrooms (ADA compliant)
Lots of new ideas while embracing the original goal of the Cain Center which is to provide an affordable location where our community can play and learn and lives can be enhanced.
All of the above plus funds available to sustain the Cain Center with NO NEW TAXES -
USING EXISTING FUNDS in the City of Athens’ budget!
“PROVIDING MORE FOR LESS! VOTE YES!
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Welcome to the New Cain Center – Vote Yes on May 4th
The referendum says:
“Shall the city council of Athens, Texas, expend a portion of the funds received from the City's Combination Tax and Revenue Certificates of Obligation Series 2017 for improvements to the Cain Center, estimated to be no more than $5.3 million?”
What a YES vote could bring to our community:
NEW AND IMPROVED FACILITIES AS RECOMMENDED BY STEERING COMMITTEE:
Total renovations of existing lap pool
New Therapy / learn-to-swim pool
Wibit playscape along with birthday party rooms
Elevator to be installed
New ADA bathrooms
Multipurpose room
New commercial kitchen
Two separate workout areas
Racquetball court
NO NEW TAXES:
Cost estimates for Capital improvements is $6,125,000
Cain and Murchison Foundations pledge $2.5 million each ($5m total)
City pledges up to $5.3 million for capital and ongoing operations from certificates of obligation that were funded to the City of Athens for the Cain Center
QUOTE FROM MAYOR MONTE MONTGOMERY:
“From my perspective, you all know we have an election in May. If you're for the Cain Center, you've got to get out and push it.”
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