The agreement came with a stipulation, however - that the BCC take a back seat when it comes to overseeing operations of the facility.
Now, Stollings and others involved in the project are brainstorming ideas about the creation of a non-profit, 501(c) company to oversee and run the proposed Community and Wellness Center.
When asked by a Rotary member how the BCC responded to the idea of a non-profit, 501(c) organization running the facility, Stollings said, “That’s the only way they were willing to accept the offer.”
Now, Stollings says he is pondering questions such as who would be on the board of the non-profit organization. “The board would probably be attached to the Economic Development Authority,” he said.
“I spoke with the Senate Finance Chairman who believes purchasing the golf course would be one way the State can help us out by giving back to our county. Really, it is a quality of life issue. Boone County needs this type of facility,” Stollings told the CVN back in the beginning of April when the fate of the golf course was uncertain.
Although the details surrounding the logistics of who will serve on the non-profit organization overseeing the daily operations of the facility or the costs of using the facility are still uncertain, Stollings is optimistic that the Community and Wellness Center will be a jewel in Boone County.
“The sky’s the limit,” he told Boone County Rotary members during their weekly meeting on July 21.
“ $1 Million is still going to Boone Memorial Hospital and we have $2 Million to purchase the land to build the Community and Wellness Center,” he said.
According to Stollings, after the purchase price of $1.25 Million, approximately $750,000 will be left over to enhance the area.
“That’s without any local, coal company, or federal help,” Stollings said.
Stollings envisions a multi-purpose community and wellness center to serve all of Boone County that would draw business and visitors to the area.
“There could be a walking trail around the golf course, but far enough away that people aren’t getting hit in the head with golf balls,” Stollings said amidst chuckles from Rotary members.
“If you’ve been up to Snowshoe, you might have seen the Expo Center. That’s what I’m envisioning,” he said. “There would be an indoor and outdoor pool perfect for year-round water aerobics and it could potentially have an indoor tennis court, and be large enough that it would be able to accommodate concerts.”
Stollings told the Rotary members that when he inquired of architects who built the Expo Center at Snowshoe, he was told that the facility cost $1.2 Million to build
“Hopefully, next year we’ll have an increase from 8-percent to 13-percent of coal severance taxes come back to Boone County. That’s 3.8 Million every year,” he said.
According to Stollings, mining coal is hard on a town’s infrastructure. The process of coal requires the use of utilities such as electric and water.
The increase in coal severance taxes could help free up some of what the Boone County Commission is currently allocating to water projects, Stollings said.
“Folks, we still have a problem at Prenter. People are having to drive to Racine Community Center to get their water,” he said.
Currently there are four area middle schools that boast a golf club and uses the Riverview Country Club Golf Course for practice and tournaments– Sherman, Chapmanville, Madison, and Logan Middle Schools have all used the facilities at Riverview Country Club and Golf Course.
The Golf Course is also the location of many community and organizational fundraisers, including this month’s WVU Alumni Pig Roast Fundraiser.
Contact Joanie Newman at jnewman@coalvalleynews.com or call 304-369-1165.
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