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Post subject: College Station to consider senior center
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College Station to consider senior center
http://www.theeagle.com/stories/072706/local_20060727028.php
By APRIL AVISON
Eagle Staff Writer
The College Station City Council on Thursday will consider planning a senior citizens center and adopting new guidelines for economic development.
A senior center has been discussed since 2000, but the issue came to light again when the city's Senior Advisory Committee made a presentation at a December council meeting asking for a new center.
The College Station City Council meets for a workshop at 3 p.m. and a regular meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday. Meetings are at City Hall Council Chambers, 1101 Texas Ave., and are broadcast live on Channel 19.
Some senior programs are operated out of the Exit Teen Center at Southwood Park with participation now exceeding capacity of that facility, according to a memo issued by Parks and Recreation Director Steve Beachy.
Beachy said he'll ask the council Thursday for direction in hiring an architect to create a plan for the facility.
"We're looking for direction from the council to come up with something precise, a conceptual site plan and a cost estimate," Beachy said. "Typically where projects go wrong is when you don't have a clearly defined scope."
Beachy said he hopes voters will have the opportunity to approve a senior center in the city's planned 2008 bond election.
A senior center could cost about $4 million, he said. About $75,500 already is budgeted.
Although a location has not been determined, it would make sense to build one adjacent to Central Park on Krenek Tap Road, Beachy said.
"The city owns the land, and the seniors favor that site," he said. "It could be a component of a future city center-type project."
A report compiled by the Senior Advisory Committee calls for at least 15,000 square feet of space with meeting rooms, dining areas, exercise facilities, health services and walking space.
In other matters, discussion on the city's economic development procedures will be led by Acting Assistant City Manager Terry Childers.
An update of the policy was performed in November 2005, but it's necessary to revisit the issue as the city begins seeking candidates to fill empty positions in the economic development department, Childers said.
College Station's former economic development director, Kim Foutz, and former assistant director, Charles Wood, both resigned this year to take other jobs. City Manager Glenn Brown has said he expects to fill those positions by the time the new budget year begins Oct. 1. |
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