THE ISSUE: Keeping the momentum on the sports complex
OUR STANCE: Lease the property rather than purchase it.
Movement on Shawnee’s proposed regional sports complex continues to inch along. Several different city commissions have wrestled with this project since it was promised as one of the “Big Four” more than 10 years ago as voters approved making the third penny sales tax permanent.
The present city commission should be commended for stepping up and urging it move along quicker. Caution should be used, though, on the land acquisition.
Until about a month ago, city officials, among them commissioners, consistently have discussed long term leasing of a site. All of a sudden, that discussion has turned to purchase, without an explanation to the citizens.
The No. 1 site as preferred by a City Sports Committee is the southwest corner of Kickapoo and Westech Road. The location consists of 131 acres beginning about 300 feet west of Kickapoo fronting Westech Road and running all the way to Leo Street on the west.
This site is located in the northern portion of the northwest corner of I-40 and Kickapoo and is owned by the Commissioners of the Land Office (school land property). City Engineer John Krywicki says the land has been appraised at $731,500 which equates to $5,600 an acre.
The city has only $888,794 remaining in the account for park project. Some of the original $1 million was utilized earlier on the design and engineering for other possible sites. The interest from that amount has been used to help fund other capital improvement projects because it wasn’t stipulated where it should go.
Nearly two weeks ago during a special meeting the Commissioners of the Land Office, chaired by Gov. Brad Henry, discussed the project. Among the options the commissioners had were to look at possibly leasing the land to Shawnee, putting it up for public auction in which the city could bid on it or taking no action.
Their decision was to direct Keith Kuhlman, director of real estate for the Land Office, to provide more information about the property. The issue most likely will be on the agenda for the commissioners’ next scheduled meeting, July 9.
City commissioners would be wise to maintain the momentum gained recently and consider a long term lease, like 55 years with an option to renew, which has been discussed for some time, until recently. There would be recurring costs with the lease, but they wouldn’t be forced to spend most of the remaining funds up front either.
Otherwise, they could lose out altogether and delay this project even further for these reasons.
First, if they are adamant about purchasing rather than leasing the property, the Land Commission must place it for auction and the city could lose out to another bidder.
Second, even if they win the bid, and are forced to pay anything close to the appraised price, they will have spent practically all of their funds on the land and have little left to design and construct the fields.
And third, if they were to lose out on the bid, then what is their next option? How much longer does it delay having a sports complex which was pledged to the people more than 10 years ago?
Keep in mind Gov. Henry chairs the Land Commission. He surely favors seeing this park becoming a reality in his hometown, sooner rather than later. He already helped secure a $200,000 tourism grant two years ago, which still is waiting to be used. Most likely the governor will push for a similar amount in the coming fiscal year if the city moves on this project in a timely manner and doesn’t incur further delays.
We recommend the commission pursue a long term lease with an option to renew, attempting to work out suitable and feasible terms. If that doesn’t work, then they should turn their attention to the old airport property north of town where they own more than 270 acres immediately available.
Either is a better alternative than risking further delay and utilizing most of the city’s available funds in an acquisition. It’s imperative to seize this opportunity and keep the momentum going.
