News : Celebration Park exceeds budget; council debates using $100,000 from LOST funds

The Vinton City Council narrowly and tentatively approved spending up to $100,000 in local option sales tax funds to cover the higher-than anticipated costs of Celebration Park, but must take further action at its next meeting to make the approval official.

Although fund-raising efforts have netted more than $280,000, the cost of the project is now estimated at $367,000.

Vinton Parks & Recreation Director Duane Randall, along with Celebration Park Committee members Jon Clingman and Mark Mossman, discussed the park funding question with the city council during its meeting last week.

Only one bid was received for the pavilion and restrooms structure; the committee plans to re-bid this part of the project.

Randall told the council that the VMEU is assisting with the expense of lighting and might contribute more. He asked the council to consider using part of the local option sales tax funds that are earmarked for capital projects.

Mayor John Watson said the project was worth the city’s support. After considering other options, the council voted to approve spending up to $100,000 from the local option sales tax capital fund, while also asking VMEU for assistance.

Council member Chris Bendull suggested asking for more contributions from the community. Councilman Bud Maynard, made the motion, which was seconded by Ron Hessenius to approve spending up to $100,000 for Celebration Park, less any contribution that might be made by VMEU, from the LOST Fund for capital projects. Elwick, Hessenius, Maynard voted yes; Bendull and Tami Stark voted no. Council member Dave Redlinger was absent.

But later, said City Coordinator Andy Lent, officials have learned that more council action is necessary.

"An expenditure more than $10,000 on any one project requires an affirmative vote of the majority of council members. This means it requires a 4-2 vote, and this vote was only 3-2," said Lent. "Furthermore, city legal counsel advises that it also requires a resolution. A resolution on this subject will be on the agenda at the next Council meeting, July 11 for consideration."

Stark says more options should be explored

Tami Stark, who voted against the funding, explained her reasons after the meeting.

"It seems as though there is an opinion 'out there' that if this Council does not see fit to contribute funds to the Celebration Park Project, we will be perceived as being non-supportive to this project and possible future projects that would be considered betterments to our community," Stark said. "That is not the case at all. Of course we like to see projects that improve our community; it would be counterproductive for us not to. It is when the City is asked for funds for these projects that we need to weigh costs with benefits."

Stark then cited some of her concerns:

"In the case of Celebration Park, we have not been asked for a specific dollar amount, and we have not been told of any specific matching dollar amounts. With the exception of the fact that we were told the Celebration Park project has come in roughly $112,000 over what was originally estimated at $255,000 (leaving an $87,000 deficit between what was raised and actual cost), we were not told if there are plans to 'scale down' some of the original plans, or to wait for future fundraising to complete some of the items that came in over budget. A 'no' vote in this case does not mean the project is disliked….it means we need to explore all options of funding, and be presented with a clear and specific request." "As many may know by now, the Council was divided on how to proceed and the issue will need to be re-visited at our next meeting on July 11," Stark says. "In the meantime, I would strongly encourage people to talk to their council representatives and/or attend the meeting next week."