SIOUX FALLS (KELO AM) - The original $19.8 million budget for the future Sioux Falls Indoor Aquatics Center at Spellerberg Park was recently increased by another $3.9 million (Roughly 20-percent) . Some Sioux Falls Council Members say there needs to be more transparency about where the additional dollars come from and how they are used.
Don Kearny, Sioux Falls Park and Recreation Director and Tracy Turbak, City Finance Director joined Greg Belfrage yesterday to discuss the increased price. They said the overage can be covered by 1.6-million dollars in surplus second-penny sales tax dollars are available from last year's budget, 1.2-million dollars that wasn't spent on 2014 Capital Improvement Plan projects and a 1.1-million dollars comes from a private gift to the city.
The new dollar figures were derived when Sioux Falls Council Members traveled to other cities, and observed their indoor aquatics centers. They were able to see and discuss what was done right and wrong at the other places. They also wanted to widen the pool to be big enough to meet the future demands and they added a Veteran's therapy pool.
Kearney said, There is only one chance to build this facility right, We know there will be no second chances to go back and make corrections when the construction is done.
City Councilman Kermit Staggers looks at the project with skepticism. He would like to see more transparency with how the aquatics center dollars are spent. He would even like to see it come to a public vote whether to use additional funds and where they come from.
The KELO AM podcast of the Greg Belfrage Show with Don Kearney and Tracy Turbak can be heard at: http://kelo.com/podcasts/greg-belfrage-show/935/sioux-falls-learns-from-mistakes-of-other-indoor-pools/
The KELO AM podcast of the Greg Belfrage Show with Kermit Staggers can be heard at: http://kelo.com/podcasts/greg-belfrage-show/935/councilman-staggers-skeptical-of-indoor-aquatic-center-additional-cost/
This Thursday at 8:10am, Mayor Mike Huether will be the guest on the Greg Belfrage Show to discuss the aquatic center.