The Greenwood County Community Center (GCCC) committee met last Monday, March 18, and among their routine business, the group approved to proceed with signage. According to the unofficial minutes, the entryway sign on Jefferson Street will be replaced and named the Matt Samuels Complex. Mayor Steve Coulter will get estimates. On the front of the concourse building, Eureka Downs will be taken down and replaced with a GCCC sign on the front of the building.
GCCC Directors attending the March 18 meeting included: Jamie Nelson, Natalie Boone, Tom Perrier, Stacy Randle, Wes Sawyer and Dan Campbell. Mac Obourn and Paul Hodge were absent. Guests included Staci Crumrine, Coulter and Joel Laws.
It was shared that Greenwood County Hospital (GWCH) had inquired about the possibility of GCCC being willing to give discounts to non-profit groups. After discussion, the GCCC will have to uphold current rates. The board discussed the rate of rental for the top floor only. A motion was made and approved to charge $500 per day. There will be a $250 cleaning deposit, with $100 being non-refundable.
Sawyer will check on the cost of getting a phone in the elevator. For now, those utilizing the elevator are suggested to have a cell phone on them.
Crumrine discussed a USDA grant that will cover the roof repairs. She will proceed with the grant application. She is also having the horse painting on the sign in front of the building restored. It was decided to put flag poles on the list of priorities. Crumrine was also approached by a county commissioner inquiring about having a carnival at Eureka Downs during the fair. The two 4-H board representatives stated they have looked into this before and at this time the liability insurance is too expensive and there is no longer enough room to have the carnival and fair at the same time. However, if the carnival wants to come at a different time the board would rent the parking lot to the interested party.
Randle gave an update on the current legislative session in Topeka concerning live horse racing at Eureka Downs. She stated there is a possibility that if the current bill passes the House, a grant or no interest, five-year loan could be acquired. This will allow repairs or renovations to the concourse building and backside area.
At a previous meeting, it was voted to require any event that charges admission or has business ventures occurring to have event insurance. This needs to be updated in the current contract.
City Administrator Laws gave the following financial report. From August - December 2023, the city has paid $15,300 toward the GCCC building. This new fiscal year $13,000 has been paid out. Utilities average $1,000 for electric and $1,000 for gas and propane monthly. These expenses will go down as soon as the ductwork is repaired. There is an estimate of $25,000-$26,000 for utilities for the year. From August - December 2023, $5,150 in GCCC building rentals was collected. From January to March 2024, $2,000 has been collected.
The Greenwood County Commissioners allocated $8,000 last year to help with utilities. The city still needs to bill the county for this current year.
Mayor Coulter has asked Cornett Electric to price the mercury lights with LEDs. Most of the other lights in the concourse building have already been replaced with LEDs.
Crumrine will proceed with the marketing and advertising of the GCCC with the pricing of venues.
The GCCC will proceed with signage.
The above report was generated from the unofficial minutes of the GCCC meeting.
