Plain City officials are rethinking how and when they want to make improvements at Pastime Park.
For years, village officials have said the park needs improvements. Until this year, the focus was renovating or rebuilding the park’s youth building and the creation of restroom options. Estimates for those projects came in higher than expected and the focus moved to the park’s campground.
The campground generates about $90,000 each year, but with expenses clears about $45,000 annually, said Village Fiscal Officer Renee Sonnett.
Park Manager Linda Granger has said if the village improves the campground, it can increase revenue. She said many campers want dedicated water, sewer and electric services at each site. Additionally, she said many campers avoid the campground in the spring and fall when the ground is soft and wet because there is no pad and campers sink and get stuck. Granger said by improving the sites, the campground could conservatively generate $130,000 a year.
Earlier this year, council approved spending $300,000 to create concrete pads and run dedicated sewer, water and electric to each of the campground’s 38 sites. The money would be borrowed against future capital improvement income tax revenue.
At a recent meeting, Granger announced an engineer’s estimate was placed that costs nearly $1 million.
“I don’t think anybody had any idea the cost of improving the campground to generate more revenue was going to cost anywhere near that,” Sonnett said following the meeting.
Granger said the village could eliminate the dedicated sewer portion of the plan because the park has a facility where campers can dump their waste, though it does need some improvements.
Even so, she said the project would cost an estimated $576,000.
“I’ll be honest, this has blown my mind how much this has cost,” Granger said.
Village Administrator Nathan Cahall said the issue is “sticky.” He said the $300,000 has already been borrowed. He said the design and engineer’s report cost the village $45,000 of that money.
“We are in a situation where we have sharpened our pencil as sharp as we can and we are going to blow through that $300,000 that was approved,” Cahall said.
Granger said the park fund could contribute $100,000 to the additional cost, but that would still leave about $213,000 that would need to come from somewhere.
Granger said if the village’s general fund fronted the money, the park could generate enough revenue to repay the money in 4.75 years. That figure, however, assumes the revenue will increase and does not include any park costs, including salaries.
Granger also said the village could take a phased approach, however the cost would likely increase if the projects are split.
Cahall said the village could do nothing or possibly just add gravel to the campsites. He said that would allow the village to look at other options.
Councilmember Darrin Lee said, “with better campsites, we could probably raise our rates a couple bucks.”
Granger said she feels confident in contributing money from her fund “for whatever that’s worth.” She said she believes the park fund will regenerate quickly with growth in the village.
Cahall said he doesn’t want the village to get into a situation where in a couple years all the capital improvement tax revenue is being used to pay debts and none of it is available for use on new projects. Sonnett echoed that thought.
Council has agreed to put the project on hold, at least for now, to explore options.
“The good news is, we have plans,” Cahall said, explaining whenever council makes a decision, it can be informed and act quickly.
Cahall added, “It is kind of a difficult position for council.”