Board of Supervisors delay gym's fate
for more study of financial burden
 |
The Natural Bridge High School Gym has been locked since 2004. (COLLEEN EVANS/Rockbridge Report) |
County residents were asked to be patient concerning the fate of the old Natural Bridge High School Gym Monday night.
Those who showed up at a Board of Supervisors' meeting to voice their support for returning the gym to the county left unhappy after Supervisor Carroll Comstock said he wasn't ready to decide on the matter. Supervisors agreed informally to 90-day extension suggested by Supervisor Mack Smith.
The county's attorney says the current issue is not whether the gym will return to the county if the county wants it. The current owner, Dr. Nick Des Champs of Des Champs Industries, acquired the gym and its property in 1996.
In the contract was an agreement to allow the community to continue using the old gym. But in 2004 Des Champs locked the gym, citing vandalism.
The pressing concern now facing the supervisors is whether the structure will pay for itself if returned to the county for community use. Two public meetings were held and three citizen subcommittees formed to look into the issue. Supporters say the facility could pay for itself if the county charges groups to use it. Individuals would not be charged for recreational use.
"A number of people voiced a very strong preference that the gym revert back to the county if possible to explore its potential as a community center, sports center, or other type of center serving as an anchor for that part of the county," said Natural Bridge District Supervisor Hunt Riegel.
A large financial burden, however, looms over the gym's potential. Startup, repair and first-year costs for the gym are estimated at $201,000. Subsequent years will cost the county $91,000. Riegel recommends a two-year trial process under which the facility will get up and running again and the county can see whether or not it will generate enough revenue to offset the costs.
Riegel attempted to address Comstock's skepticism.
"There's an intangible value here as well, the value of the gym to the community," he said. Riegel can see it "as an anchor, a focal point. Here's something the community can do that would be good, productive and possibly better than we imagined."
Natural Bridge resident Allen Young, head of the maintenance subcommittee, agrees.
"With the high cost of incarceration now, if we can save one youngster with what this facility can help to do, it would be worthwhile."
Comstock supports the effort, but was unwilling to make a decision based on the information provided to the board at the meeting.
"For the board to make a decision, there needs to be more financial justification and more firm and specific commitment on usage and community donations, input, contributions, whatever else it would take to make this happen," he said. "There's still work to be done before this board makes a decision."
Walkers Creek District Supervisor Buster Lewis agreed.
"I'm concerned that there is no plan," he said. "The county could get stuck with having to support building [and] property where nothing happens. I'm encouraged – the potential is exciting, and fairly realistic. There is lots going on outside of just Rockbridge County that we can take advantage of, and that we should."
Anne Russek, who volunteered on one of the subcommittees to look into the gym, said that it would be beneficial for more than just the youth of the Natural Bridge area. She hopes to get older residents involved in adult leagues of various types, and she noted that indoor walking and other activities have become increasingly popular.
Cindy Lawson attended Natural Bridge High School before the creation of Rockbridge County High School. She believes that the gym could be used to host basketball and wrestling tournaments. More importantly, she said, there are enough people in the community of all ages who are willing to go the extra mile to make the gym a success.
Comstock held firm that the liability the county would face if it accepts responsibility for the structure is enough to justify requiring more information.
"My gut feeling is that we have a gym right across the street that the community has access to," he said, referring to Natural Bridge Elementary School. "It seems like an extravagant expense to go across the street and spend a couple hundred thousand dollars if we don't know it will balance out in the end.
"I don't want people coming back to the county in a couple years saying they need a couple hundred thousand more dollars."
The supervisors agreed that more detail is needed on the business plan for them to move ahead. Comstock wants figures for each year broken down, as well as research on similar facilities regarding startup problems and unforeseen costs.
Riegel, one of the gym's biggest supporters on the board, does agree with Comstock. But he's ready to take the necessary steps to continue progress on the gym. That now includes a 90-day period during which a committee, including Riegel, will provide a more focused proposal.
"County's exposure is an issue and should be minimized," Riegel said. "There is a risk involved, and the question is, are we going to take it?"
Produced by
Washington and Lee
journalism students.
Lead Supervisors:
Prof. Brian
Richardson
Prof. Phylissa
Mitchell
Editing supervisor:
Prof. Pam Luecke
Technical supervisor: Michael Todd