Overton To Use ARP For New Monroe Community Center

Plans are being drawn for Monroe’s new community center.

County Executive Ben Danner said the county is working with architects to design the project using American Rescue Plan funding.

“What we’re looking at is a 40 by 60 metal building,” Danner said. “So that would be 2,400 square foot. Right now, they have about 800 square foot, and it’s not handicap accessible at all. So it would kinda be like the ag building we have at the fairgrounds.”

Danner said the building would include a kitchen, bathrooms and an open pavilion. Danner said the plan is to build the new facility next to the current community center located across from the Monroe Post Office on Highway 111.

Danner said the initial goal was to have the project ready come election time in August. Danner said that’s unlikely as final designs and the bid process still need to be completed.

Danner said the old building will be used while the new building is constructed. Danner said the current center was once a portable classroom from the 1970’s. After the project is complete, Danner said the county will either mark the portable classroom as surplus or find another use.

The county originally applied for a grant to pay for the project, but Danner said the funding was not secured.