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April 16, 2008 Wellness Center meeting may have spawned economic development group School district affirms support for project By Trudy Balcom Frustrations over roadblocks and funding troubles among members of the Community Education and Wellness Center may have spawned an informal economic development committee. About a dozen people, including council representatives from both Marquette and McGregor, Isle of Capri general manager Barron Fuller and MFL MarMac School Superintendent Dale Crozier attended the meeting held last Wednesday for the Community Education and Wellness Center Committee at Eagles Landing Winery in Marquette. Planning for the multi-purpose fitness and community center have stalled over issues of location and funding. Plans for an $8 million facility drew negative community feedback in Marquette, and is too costly for the city to bond for. Additionally, the City of Marquette has not yet agreed to provide the land necessary for the preferred location of the center; the 11-acre Roundhouse site. Superintendent Dale Crozier affirmed the school's support for the project, and noted that the school could be flexible with the facilities planned for the Wellness Center. "Whatever the group comes up with, the school will make it work," he said. He also noted that the $200,000 commitment given to the project by the schoolboard is solid, supported by a vote of the school board. "We won't back down," Crozier said. After some discussion of how to approach scaling back the project and the facilities offered at the site, Jason Solberg, a councilman for McGregor, said he felt the group should not focus on scaling the plans for the center back at all. Instead, Solberg said, the group should focus on locating a developer to assist with the project, to bring a hotel or small convention center to the same location and build the Wellness Center as part of the project. "I just think we've wasted too much time talking about how we are going to scale back," he said. Solberg said he thought that if the cities covered the cost of the earthmoving and preparation of the site, and Marquette placed the property in a 20-year TIF district, it would likely be enough incentive for a developer to put in the Wellness Center in addition to their own hotel project. The group agreed, and began mulling over how to locate a developer. Marquette hotel/motel tax vote is Tuesday, April 29 Placed on the ballot by Marquette City Council, voters in Marquette are being asked to consider passing a hotel motel tax. The proposed seven percent tax would be added to the room rate charged to nightly guests by inns in Marquette. Currently, 106 Iowa cities and 13 counties charge guests a hotel motel tax. This generated revenue is designated by the state to be used toward various types of economic development projects and tourism promotion for the respective city or county. According to Iowa Code 422A.2, cities shall spend at least 50 percent of the tax revenues on the acquisition of recreational, convention, civic, cultural or entertainment facilities or for the promotion of tourism or convention business. Remaining revenues may be used for city operations authorized by law. Sasha Dull, Executive Director of the McGregor-Marquette Chamber of Commerce says the Chamber supports the community, local government and businesses and hopes the residents of Marquette see the value of passing this tax. "Economic development and quality of life in our area is very important. The hotel motel tax is a great way to draw in funding, at no cost to residents or businesses. This tax can greatly assist Marquette in funding economic development projects and tourism promotion, benefiting our local economy and adding to our quality of life," Dull said. Dull estimates the revenue generated could be approximately $20,000 per year. "Communities that have this tax tend to see an increase each year in hotel motel tax revenue; this suggests the tax has no negative affect on the lodging business in the community," says Dull. For more information please visit http://www.iowa.gov/tax/educate/localoption.html or contact the Chamber of Commerce at 563-873-2186. |
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