City looks at $2 million LEAF grant
By Rochelle Moore
Published in News on August 28, 2017 5:50 AM
The city of Goldsboro is seeking a $2 million Golden LEAF Foundation grant to help pay some of the construction costs for a new Herman Park Recreation Center.
The grant would specifically pay for a second gymnasium in the building, which would be converted into an emergency shelter during a natural disaster.
The gymnasium is part of a larger proposal to build a new multimillion-dollar recreation center to replace the current Herman Park Center, a makeshift recreational facility originally built in 1892, as an orphanage, and renovated in 1971, as a community center on East Ash Street.
City officials have talked about the need for an emergency shelter since Hurricane Matthew left widespread damage, in 2016, and forced many residents to area shelters, some for an extended amount of time.
"There's a need because the other shelters are at capacity," said Octavius Murphy, assistant to the city manager. "This additional emergency shelter would be big in meeting needs.
"This will be an additional resource for the community because another disaster will happen, so this is a way to mitigate that."
The center would be used for residents, as well as disaster and recovery agencies, including the Red Cross and Federal Emergency Management Agency, Murphy said.
The grant application, discussed during a recent council work session, changes the construction plan for a new recreation center, which remains under consideration by the Goldsboro City Council.
In July, the council learned, based on preliminary design plans, that a new building with three gymnasiums could cost nearly $17 million. A recreation center with two gyms would cost about $14.9 million. City leaders, including Councilman Gene Aycock, said the cost will likely require a property tax increase to foot the bill.
To date, the council has not voted to build the new center and no decision has been made to increase property taxes.
Before the design plans were presented, early estimates tagged the project closer to $10 million.
During the recent council meeting, Mayor Chuck Allen presented a new scenario -- construct the center at the near cost and scope of the W.A. Foster Recreation Center, which opened in early 2016 on South John Street.
Lowering the total cost to $10 million would allow the city to apply for the Golden LEAF grant, with the city's cost estimated at $8 million and supplemented by the $2 million grant, Stevens said.
Councilman Bevan Foster raised concern that he was unaware of the reduced overall cost and was being asked to support the grant application.
"We're always changing things, and we're being notified at the last minute," Foster said. "Personally, I would like . . . time to think about it."
Councilman Mark Stevens also raised concern about the change in cost.
Allen said city staff rethought the process in light of the grant opportunity.
"We had always talked $10 to $12 million, and the conversation was we can't afford $16 million," Allen said. "So, the conversation wasn't why can't we take W.A. Foster, build the building we had out there."
Even though the council has not decided on whether to build the center, Stevens said the city needs to pursue the grant while it's available.
"I know we've not finished the debate on the Herman Park Center, but if we wait to finish the debate, I don't believe it will be there," Stevens said, of the Golden LEAF grant.
Stevens said he plans to discuss various options with the council in September.
"I am concerned with the cost and what that means from a debt service payment standpoint, but in my opinion, time is of the essence in applying for funding related to Hurricane Matthew's recovery," Stevens said Thursday.
The Golden LEAF grant is one of three the city is applying for to help with Hurricane Matthew disaster recovery efforts.
The city is seeking a $2 million Golden LEAF grant to add an earthen berm around the water treatment plant due to its proximity to the Little River, a tributary of the Neuse River. The 5-to 8-foot-high berm would serve to protect the water plant, the city's main water supply source, that experienced nearby flooding during 2016 hurricane.
The city is also seeking a $1.1 million storm cleanup grant from the Golden LEAF Foundation. The grant would go toward the clearing of several city creeks, including Stoney Creek, Royal Meadow Creek, Billy Bud Branch, Reedy Branch and Glennwood Trail.
The Golden LEAF grant decisions will be made in October, Murphy said.