By Leslie Moriarty
Herald Writer
MONROE — Residents in Monroe will get a chance in November to tell officials whether they want a swimming pool and community center.
The city council has approved placing a $5.1 million bond issue on the Nov. 6 general election ballot, which if passed will help create the Centennial Community Center.
The idea of building an indoor swimming pool and community center to honor the city’s centennial in 2003 has been floating around for years.
In the past several months, plans have been solidifying through the city’s centennial committee. The proposed project is a $9.1 million community center, of which $5.1 million would come from the bond issue if approved by voters.
The Snohomish County YMCA is committing $2 million for construction, which it plans to get through fund-raising projects.
The additional $2 million is attributed to the land value where the community center will be built. The city has agreed to donate land for the construction, although an exact site has not been decided.
City Administrator Bill Verwolf said the council has "nominally" decided on the location being south of the Galaxy Theater, on Kelsey Street, on vacant property the city owns.
But the location of the center is not addressed in the ballot question. The question that voters will see on the ballot asks only whether the general obligation bonds should be issued, maturing within 20 years, for construction and equipping of the community center.
It also calls for the city to levy property taxes annually to repay the bonds. Verwolf said the anticipated tax increase if the bond measure passes would be about 47 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation.
That means an increase of $70.50 a year for someone who owns a house valued at $150,000.
You can call Herald Writer Leslie Moriarty at 425-339-3436
or send e-mail to moriarty@heraldnet.com.
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