Presque Isle voters
support new Community Center
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — Public support for a new Community Center was evident on Election Day, with Presque Isle residents voting 2-1 in favor of constructing a new building at the intersection of Chapman Road and Riverside Drive to replace the Haskell Building on Main Street, which was built in 1964.
An advisory question on the Nov. 6 ballot asked voters, “Do you favor the construction of a new Community Center to replace the current facility?” Citizens responded with 2,726 voting “yes,” while 1,355 opposed the project.
Chris Beaulieu, director of the Presque Isle Recreation and Parks Department, said recently that repairs to the Haskell Building would cost upwards of $800,000, since major repairs were needed for the roof, walls and ceilings contained asbestos, the building’s electrical system is dated, the basement had issues with dampness and mold, space was limited and parking is always an issue, among other things.
City Council has been discussing the possibility of a new facility since 2006. Councilors initially considered replacing the 7,200 square foot Main Street building with a $10 million 37,000-square foot two-story structure on property the city acquired opposite the District Court. Due to economic concerns, the proposed size of the building was reduced to 30,000 square feet for a single-story center. Plans for the building include a walking track, teen and senior citizen areas, multipurpose room, locker rooms, kitchen facilities, art room and gymnasium. The site is expected to meet citizens’ needs for the next 70 years.
Construction of the Community Center is contingent on fund-raising efforts. The anticipated cost of the new Community Center is $7,500,000, with city officials optimistic half can be raised through fundraising, with the other half coming from taxpayers. The total taxpayer impact would be .8 of a mil, or 80 cents per $1,000 in valuation. Taxes will not increase until the first half of the money can be raised. Steve and Lucy Richard are co-chairs of the fund-raising committee and now will begin their job in earnest, looking for ways to come up with at least $3.5 million for the project.
For more information on the proposed Community Center, visit www.presqueisle.govoffice2.com.
