Jasper looking at optional locations for Regional Wellness Center

With the complications involved in working with the Indiana National Guard, the City of Jasper is considering other options for the Regional Wellness Center location.

The Indiana National Guard owns the land where the city would like to construct the Regional Wellness Center. The city has been in talks with them regarding a potential partnership, however, remaining in compliance with the Indiana National Guard’s regulations and stance on property ownership has created a bottle neck for progress on the property.

“Generally speaking, it is not their policy to sell properties,” City Attorney Renee Kabrick told the Jasper Redevelopment Commission on Tuesday. “They pretty much hang onto anything they own, so they would prefer a long-term lease. We (city) would prefer ownership.”

Additionally, the Indiana National Guard has regulations it has to comply with regarding the security and functionality of the armory that could affect the design of the structure.

Kabrick also explained that with the changing command structure, they have been working with new leadership and command channels in the Indiana National Guard, which has contributed to slowing the progress on the discussion around the project. Those talks are continuing though, she stated. But at the same time, the city would like to look at other locations.

As an alternative consideration, the city asked the redevelopment commission to allocate $7,000 for a feasibility study of a property adjacent to The Parklands as a potential site for the Regional Wellness Center. The 10 acres is owned by the school corporation and , according to Kabrick, city officials and Dr. Tracy Lorey, the Greater Jasper School Corporation Superintendent, have been in discussion about its use.

School Board member Steve Lukemeyer, who serves as the school corporation representative on the redevelopment commission, stated that there had not been a decision on whether the school board is willing to sell the property.

According to Mayor Dean Vonderheide, the discussion with Dr. Lorey have centered on the corporation’s goal of creating more early childhood learning opportunities and how fulfilling that need could fit plans for the Regional Wellness Center, “and jointly going at this in partnership.”

Jasper Elementary and Ireland Elementary schools were just named the first public elementary schools in Indiana to be accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children for their preschool programs. Learn more here.

The Tri-County YMCA has already stated the Regional Wellness Center would be used for providing before and after school care among its other programming.

Jasper Redevelopment Commission President Andy Seger supported exploring other options for the location of the Regional Wellness Center. “I love the location of the Armory and how it fits with all we have going in that area,” he said, referring to the new outdoor pool and the nearby parks.

However, he conceded that coming to an agreement with the Indiana National Guard could be challenging.

“So, I think it is a good idea to explore and this location (the school property) is really close,” Seger said.

Vonderheide noted that the school board has not met to discuss whether they supported the idea. He explained that before they can consider the idea, the city will need to see if it the property is even a feasible option for the Regional Wellness Center. “If it’s not feasible to even take it to them, then we won’t,” he told the commission.

Commission member Laura Grammer also supported looking at other location options, but stated she would support this location even if a portion of The Parklands property had to be used to make it feasible.

The commission approved $7,000 for Hafer and Associates to conduct the feasibility study of the property for the potential site of the Regional Wellness Center.

This $7,000 is in addition to the $64,000 already allocated for planning and engineering of the Regional Wellness Center by the redevelopment commission from tax increment finance (TIF) funds that have been captured by the city’s Central TIF District. These funds are collected from commercial and business property taxes, not from property taxes paid by individual homes.

Kabrick also informed the commission that they are on track to award the contract for the construction of the new outdoor pool — a separate project from the Regional Wellness Center — in February.