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Supervisors debate sites and costs for proposed county recreation/wellness center
Summary
Staff outlined two primary options for a recreation/wellness center — building at Route 211 (higher excavation and potential retaining‑wall costs) or renovating/purchasing the Goodrich Road community center (building for sale at $1.25M) — and the board agreed to wait for the school facilities study before locking a site.
County staff updated the Board of Supervisors on site options, cost estimates and next steps for a proposed county recreation and wellness center.
Mr. Olsen said excavation costs at the Route 211 site may reach $500,000 and could require retaining structures and additional engineering because of the terrain; staff recommended getting elevation surveys and further engineering if the board wanted to pursue that site. As an alternative, staff noted an EDA property on Goodrich Road and an existing Goodrich Community Center building that is currently for sale for $1,250,000; renovating that structure and expanding parking could reduce excavation and initial construction costs but would still require renovation and roof work, staff said.
Supervisors raised concerns that Goodrich Road may not be the best location for a countywide rec center (access, parking and tourism proximity were cited) and discussed multi‑floor design options, flood‑zone elevation issues, and the possibility of converting surplus school buildings depending on the upcoming school facilities study. Several supervisors urged caution about spending large sums now and recommended waiting for the school study (expected early fall) to see whether existing school structures could be repurposed to reduce costs.
Staff recommended issuing an RFQ to evaluate renovation vs. new construction and suggested working with at least two firms through the procurement process. The board gave direction to staff to hold off on purchasing Goodrich at this time and to reevaluate options after the school study results.
