Civic Center Project Moving Forward After Petition Fails

The McMinnville Civic Center remodeling project will move forward after a petition for a public referendum failed.

City Administrator Bill Brock said the $10 million project will hopefully get underway by the end of the year.

“It’s now back in the hands of the mayor and board of aldermen. They are moving forward with financing and getting that established,” Brock said. “They’re also working with the engineers, architects, and contractor to get a contract nailed down and hopefully a notice to proceed.”

The petition would have placed a public referendum on a ballot to let voters decide if the city should borrow money for the project.

The renovation work will include utility upgrades, expansion projects, and making the building ADA compliant.

Brock said the building has not had any renovations since it was built brand new in the 1970’s.

“Many years have gone by with just paint jobs and repairs,” Brock said. “We are trying to add some space to the building and bring it up to par to what it’s being used for today and not when it was originally built.”

Brock said the city would like to construct an indoor pool facility near the civic center in the future.

“That’s something that’s really had a lot of interest here in the community,” Brock said. “Once they (the board) get the finals on the remodeling, the next step will be looking at the use of an indoor pool for competitive swimming and therapy.”

Brock said the indoor pool facility would be the second phase to the project and will likely take place after the remodeling project is completed.