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1.
Why do we need a Fitness and Wellness Center?
2.
What is the goal/mission of the Wellness Center?
3. What is included in the Wellness Center?
4. What kind of programming will be involved?
5. Why are we not building a larger indoor pool or
a recreational pool?
6. Where will the facility be located and how was
the location decided?
7. Why can’t we build it on the current swimming
pool site (Progress Park)?
8. How much money do we need and what is the
project cost?
9. Who or what
organizations have given?
10. Where will the money come for
daily operations?
11. What are the admission fees?
12. Who will operate it?
13. Who will comprise the Board of Directors?
14. Who will run it on a daily basis?
15. How much does it cost to run it daily?
16.
Who will own it?
17.
How much is FGH involved?
18. Will FGH have sole rights to the therapy pool?
19. Who will build it?
20. Will local contractors be allowed to bid?
21.
Why is the city not involved?
22.
Will the city get involved now or in the future?
23. What will be the status of our
current pool?
24. Will fund-raising interfere with
a new middle school issue?
25. Can the high school facility and
RACE work together toward one facility?
Why
do we need a Fitness and Wellness Center?
Top
The Wellness Center will be a major enhancement Franklin
County’s quality of life.
The State of Iowa has a program called Vision Iowa which
is helping to make special projects become a reality in many
communities. The CAT program is part of this initiative designed
for small communities to help with projects such as the wellness
center. The CAT program is in the 3rd year of 5
fiscal years in which the state will award $12.5 million (per
year) to communities who apply and meet the criteria. We would
like to see the money return to Franklin County. The CAT grant
awarded this project $650,000 dollars. No other community our
size received a grant this large, solidifying the states
positive outlook on our project. To receive the CAT grant we
MUST raise 1.5 million dollars before August 12th,
2004. The facility will be operational by the fall of 2005.
What
is the goal/mission of the Wellness Center?
Top
To provide people of all ages a future that includes a
healthy lifestyle, family fun and a positive outlook that comes
with a successful community effort.
What
is included in the Wellness Center?
Top
The facility will feature a full-size gymnasium, an elevated
walking track, a fitness and weight room (treadmills, etc), a
multi-purpose room, a 6-lane pool, a therapy pool, locker rooms
(men’s, women’s, family), lounge area, and office.
What
kind of programming will be involved?
Top
The Wellness Center will offer residents and visitors of
Franklin County a variety of programs in a positive, convenient
and affordable setting. Programs
will be offered to all age groups.
Examples by location within the facility:
Pool: Swim
team, swimming lessons, aqua aerobics, lap swim, open swim,
water volleyball, float nights, splash dances, and private
rentals. An example of open swim hours are 4:00 p.m. to 8:00
p.m. Monday through Friday and 1:00 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. Saturdays
and Sundays September thru May as well as in June, July and
August when the outdoor city pool is closed due to bad weather.
Therapy
Pool: Physical
therapy and rehabilitation programs by Franklin General Hospital
staff, infant and toddler swimming lessons, adult swimming
lessons, senior aquatic programs, open swim.
Gymnasium:
After school programs for youth, basketball leagues and
tournaments for adults and youth, AAU basketball practice and
tournaments, badminton, preschool gymnastics and tumbling,
special events and concerts, adult and youth volleyball, indoor
soccer, indoor tennis, open gym.
Walking-Jogging
Track: Cardiac rehabilitation, indoor walking programs,
track and cross country practice during bad weather.
Fitness/Weight
Room: New
member orientation, fitness testing, physical therapy and
rehabilitation, strength-training for youth, young adults, and
senior citizens, circuit training.
Lounge/Lobby
Area with Front Desk and Concession Area:
Social interaction with bridge, cribbage, and other card
games; checkers, chess and other board games; coffee, food and
beverage sales, equipment checkout and sales.
Locker
Rooms: Will be
available for men and women to change clothing, shower and store
their belongings while using the facility.
A separate family changing room is also being planned.
Why
are we not building a larger indoor pool or a recreational pool?
Top
There is not enough money to build both a full size
indoor recreational pool and an outdoor pool, especially when
the City of Hampton will continue to operate the existing
outdoor pool. Please note that the lap and therapy pools
will also be utilized for recreational purposes as well as their
primary purposes. The
current plan calls for a 4-lane lap pool. The 1.5 million we
need to raise will provide us with a 6-lane pool. See
programming question for details.
Building an outdoor recreational pool for 80 days of
operation is just not economically feasible unless it is
supported by public funds.
Where
will the facility be located and how was the location decided?
Top
The Wellness Center will be housed in a facility located
on the east edge of Hampton. The spacious property is located west of the Franklin General
Hospital health care campus and provides area for more than
adequate parking and for future activity expansion, such as
soccer fields. This
highly visible location will provide easy access to members as
they travel throughout Franklin County.
The facility will be very close to service providers
located at Franklin General Hospital. A bike/walking path will be extended to the facility,
allowing safe access during those months when the weather
allows. Bus
transportation is also being planned utilizing school buses
after school and transit buses during the day.
Six sites were evaluated. The major considerations were
land size, land cost, demolition, infrastructure cost, and extra
land for expansion. The land west of Franklin County Public
Health (Dudley property) was favored in all aspects of
consideration. Franklin General Hospital and the FGH Foundation
are major contributors of both money and land.
One condition of their participation was having the
wellness center be a part of their health care campus.
Why
can’t we build it on the current swimming pool site (Progress
Park)?
Top
The city does not want it built there.
There would barely be sufficient room for a facility and
parking in the Progress Park location. There would not be
adequate space for outdoor programming that requires fields and
green space.
How
much money do we need and what is the project cost?
Top
The total project cost is $3.6 million. As of
February 2004, we need additional funds of $1-$1.5 million in
pledges and cash donations to qualify for the maximum state
grant and build a quality facility with the features we see as
most desirable. The fast rising price of steel and other
uncertainties involved in this type of project may affect our
bid price.
$1,200,000
RACE
$650,000
CAT grant
$525,000
Franklin General Hospital
$100,000
FGH Foundation (therapy pool)
$25,000
North Iowa Mercy
$60,000
City of Hampton (feasibility and fund-raising costs)
$6,000
Franklin County
To build with the 4-lane lap pool RACE needs an additional
$1,050,960 in future pledges.
To build with the 6-lane lap pool RACE needs an additional
$1,500,000 in future pledges.
Who
or what organizations have given?
Top
Over 200 individuals, families, organizations and
businesses throughout Franklin County or with connections to
Franklin County have pledged or donated over $1 million to this
project. Any size
gift will be appreciated and recognized as a part of a permanent
display in the facility. Naming
opportunities are available.
Where
will the money come for daily operations?
Top
Budget
projections are based on a business plan that details a number
of items including estimated staffing requirements, past city of
Hampton swimming pool/recreation budgets and the City of Cresco
Fitness Center budget. Memberships
and admissions will account for a majority of the income. The number of estimated members is based on national YMCA
studies of the expected percentage of citizens who will join. Revenue
will also be received from concession sales, program fees,
locker rentals and rentals from private parties.
Programming is
crucial for the success of the wellness center. Grants are being
pursued for operational costs.
What
are the admission fees?
Top
Contact Franklin Wellness Center Director Kacey Sutter at 641-456-4811 for more information.
Who
will operate it?
Top
A
Board of Directors will oversee operations.
A full time director and staff will be hired.
Who
will comprise the Board of Directors?
Top
A seven member board of directors will be comprised of the
following: one appointed by RACE, one appointed by the Franklin
General Hospital Board of Directors, and five other citizens
that will be appointed by R.A.C.E. The director will also serve
as a non-voting member.
Who
will run it on a daily basis?
Top
The Franklin Wellness Center Board of Directors will be
responsible for the control and oversight of the facility,
including, but not limited to, the establishment of fees,
scheduling of activities and maintenance of the facility.
The board will also serve as business advisors who will
provide information and make decisions. A fulltime director will
be responsible for the overall operation of the facility, hiring
and training of staff and scheduling of facility and events.
Responsibilities of the director will also include management of
the pools, coordination of swimming lessons and the planning and
implementation of recreational programming.
How
much does it cost to run it daily?
Top
Projected first year
revenues are $284,300 and first year expenditures are $280,233
or an average of $767.76 per day.
Who
will own it?
Top
The facility will be owned by the non-profit organization
Franklin County R.A.C.E.
How
much is FGH involved?
Top
Franklin General Hospital’s investment in our
community will allow us to make this a reality while adhering to
their mission statement of improving and promoting health in the
community. They are involved financially and have no intentions
of making this a hospital owned or operated facility. So
far, FGH has donated the land and cleared the site. The FGH
Foundation has invested $100,000 to build a therapy pool.
Franklin General Hospital has invested $525,000 which includes
the value of the land.
Will
FGH have sole rights to the therapy pool?
Top
No. FGH Departments of Rehabilitation and Therapy and
other licensed professionals will use the pool primarily between
the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Other uses are being explored.
Who
will build it?
Top
A committee of volunteers led by Denny Edwards will be
in charge of interviewing and selecting contractors for
construction of the facility.
Will
local contractors be allowed to bid?
Top
Yes. Special consideration will be given to local
contractors who submit their bids to the general contractor and
will be a factor in the overall decision of who is granted the
contract to build the facility.
Why
is the city not involved?
Top
The city of Hampton was initially involved and contributed
approximately $60,000 for costs of fund-raising and feasibility
studies but, has since chosen not to pursue building a new pool
in conjunction with a wellness facility. Local option
sales tax dollars will go toward the operation and improvement
of the current city pool that was originally built in the
1950’s.
Will
the city get involved now or in the future?
Top
It is highly unlikely that the city of Hampton will participate
in the building or operation of the wellness facility.
The city has eliminated all recreation programs from
their budget. The
wellness center will most likely take over the many recreation
programs dropped by the city due to budget cuts.
What
will be the status of our current pool?
Top
The City of Hampton will
continue to operate the outdoor public pool. Pool
improvements using local option sales tax funds are being
considered. Check
with the City of Hampton for more information.
Will
fund-raising interfere with a new middle school issue?
Top
The middle school and the Wellness Center are both quality of
life issues important to the future of Franklin County.
Different money sources are involved with these two projects.
The wellness center project has received a substantial
Community Attractions and Tourism grant from the State of Iowa.
This CAT grant has nothing to do with the middle school issue.
Additional money raised for the wellness center is coming from
private donations or grants and not a bond issue vote.
The Wellness Center is independent from a school bond
issue. The Wellness Center will happen regardless of whether a
new middle school is built or not.
Can
the high school facility and RACE work together toward one
facility?
Top
The potential that the high school and RACE will build one joint
facility is not likely at this point. The goals of the
high school are to expand the available space at the high school
facility so high school students, faculty and staff will have
access to it without busing and transportation costs. The
high school project is for high school students, specifically
for health education classes and weight training/physical
fitness training for student athletes.
RACE wants to provide wellness opportunities for everyone
in the Franklin County area, regardless of age. |