Before the final vote on the 2010-2011 budget at tonight’s Decatur City Commmission meeting, Mayor Bill Floyd began a conversation with his fellow commissioners about the projected long-term financial obligations of the city and what he continually referred to as “pressure on the budget.”

Spurred by recent concerns about proposals to take on additional debt for unfinished capital improvement projects like renovation of the Recreation Center, Public Works facility, Fire Station No. 1 and the Beacon Hill complex, Floyd asked the City Manager and Asst. Manager Andrea Arnold to project out costs for some of the city’s larger financial obligations, specifically the retirement fund, health insurance and pension payments to retired employees.

While Mayor Floyd originally asked that the projections be discussed over the next year, Commissioners Boykin and Baskett later suggested that the projections be delivered much sooner so the commission could consider future obligations prior to making decisions about incurring additional debt for the aforementioned capital improvement projects by the end of the calendar year.

Commissioner Patti Garrett added an additional request to that: a breakdown from the City Manager of how the 2006 bond fund money was allocated and how it has been spent.  City Manager Merriss agreed to fulfill both the Mayor’s request for debt projections and incorporate Commissioner Garrett’s request in a document that would be available to the entire community in the next “few weeks”.

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InDecatur notes that the city is now seeking proposals for improvements to the Rec Center, which is another bond fund project.

According to the city’s website, here’s the gist of what will be done…

1. Develop a master plan to upgrade the Decatur Recreation Center, fund design documents and construct improvements. $2.05 million
The Decatur Recreation Center was designed and constructed in the late 1950s. Recreational programming has changed dramatically in the past 50 years. A master plan will identify changes needed in the building to meet current and future recreational program needs.

Renovation of the building will provide for expanded programming rooms, upgraded mechanical systems, an air conditioned gym and more efficient office space. The master planning process will allow input from a variety of stakeholders in the community to assure that we develop an efficient space that meets a wide variety of recreational needs in the community.

David also notes in his post that he took ballroom dancing at an old building that once functioned as the Rec Center for the city. I’m not sure if this is what he refering to, but here’s a 1940 pic of the Murphy Scott Cooper House, which was torn down to make room for the lovely Rec Center back in the 50’s.

Looks a bit like its High House neighbor, huh? What an absolute tragedy. Thanks a whole heck of a lot urban renewal!