Fort Scott residents OK half-cent sales tax

Community Health and Wellness Committee member Diana Mitchell shows her excitement outside the Bourbon County Clerk's Office Tuesday night after hearing -- and seeing -- the results of the half-cent sales tax vote. The initiative passed by an overwhelming margin. (Michael Pommier/Tribune)

Voters on Tuesday overwhlemingly passed a half-cent sales tax that will fund a new swimming pool and addition to Buck Run Community Center.

By a count of 1,185 yes votes to 500 no votes, according to unofficial results, Fort Scott voters approved the sales tax to fund a $3.9 million renovation to the municipal pool and an addition to Buck Run Community Center.

Reta Baker, chairwoman of the Community Health and Wellness Committee which promoted the sales tax, said that she and the rest of the committee members are excited about the passing of the sales tax and are looking forward to making their plans a reality.

Morris Wrench, left, assists Paul Baldonado, right, as he turns in his ballot Tuesday afternoon at the Grace Baptist Church. Residents of Fort Scott and surrounding communites went to the polls to vote for several city officials and school board representatives, as well as sales tax proposals. (Michael Pommier/Tribune)

"I'm extremely proud of the city of Fort Scott for coming out to vote and making the yes decision. Also, I'm very proud of my team ... getting the word out and helping people make an informed decision was a team effort," Baker said.

The next step in the process, said Baker, is for city officials to obtain the bonds that will fund the projects. While the bonds are being obtained, the committee will work to finalize the plans and designing the facilities. Baker said that plans are to begin construction on both projects in September.

Baker said the new pool is expected to be completed in time to open for the 2012 swimming pool season. She added preliminary estimates for the completion of the Buck Run Community Center is about six months, however, she feels that is a little "overly aggressive."

Reta Baker, chairwoman of the Community Health and Wellness Committee, sits with Kelly Nelson at Crooner's Lounge Tuesday evening awaiting results of the half-cent sales tax election to finance improvements to the pool and Buck Run Community Center. (Ruth Campbell/Tribune)

The sales tax would run for 10 years and cannot be extended unless the community approves it through a vote. Of the $3.9 million, $400,000-$500,000 will be used to fund a 6,000-square-foot addition to the south end of Buck Run Community Center and the remainder would go toward fixing the city's vintage 1936 pool.

Improvements to the swimming pool would include the addition of features previously removed for various reasons and bring the pool back into compliance with safety and accessibility regulations.

During construction at Buck Run, Baker said a temporary entrance will be made in the back of the building so that patrons can still access the facilities. She said a portion of the parking lot will be fenced off during construction, limiting available parking on the south side of the building.

"We will have a parking issue during construction," she said.

When asked about speculation of the committee using property tax increase as a back-up, Baker said that was never the plan. She clarified by saying that many of the members of the committee feared that if the sales tax did not pass, the issue could eventually become a property tax issue.

"I think that was fear in a lot of the team's minds," Baker said. "At no point was that a back-up plan ... It would have definitely been a last resort if other funding couldn't have been located to do the repairs that would have needed to be done."

Results of Tuesday's election will be made official after the Bourbon County Board of Canvassers review the provisional ballots Monday at 9:30 a.m.