Officials come to building open house

By GINA KINSLOW

TOMPKINSVILLE — Several people turned out Thursday for the open house and ribbon cutting of the Monroe Family Wellness Center.

Among those in attendance were Monroe County magistrates, who were given tours by members of the Wellness Center’s board of directors.

Prior to the event, the board attended a special-called meeting of the Monroe Fiscal Court where magistrates were given copies of design build proposals for a second building for the Wellness Center that will house a swimming pool and a cardio fitness area.

Rita Crabtree, chairman of the board of directors, said she was pleased with the outcome of the magistrates’ meeting.

“I think everybody came to more of a common understanding and I think if everything goes as was stated we should be moving along in at a faster pace and with everyone on the same page,” she said.

The Wellness Board had several concerns prior to the first bid opening, in which contractors submitted proposals containing dollar amounts.

“Of course, the main thing was the cost. The bid process — if they were going to be over bid or under bid. We were concerned with the fact that we would have liked to have seen a lot more bids submitted. There was less than what we would anticipated for us to choose from or looked at and just that everything was done in a right manner,” she said.

As for grumblings that one contractor was being preferred over another, she said, “You always hear grumblings and we were just wanting to make sure that today everybody was on the same page and that those grumblings didn’t have proof.”

County Attorney Wes Stephens said he felt there was a misunderstanding that the Monroe Fiscal Court did not want the Wellness Center’s input.

“That’s never been the intent,” he said during Thursday’s special-called meeting.

Crabtree said she thought that was an issue the magistrates voted on at their Oct. 21 meeting due to “our inability to govern the last process effectively.”

Stephens said the magistrates just want to move forward with the project, and Crabtree said she does too.

“I think everybody is on the same page. We’ve just come a different route for everybody to get there,” Stephens said.

Magistrate Alonzo Ford and the other magistrates said they think the Wellness Board should be involved in the project.

“The county’s part on it is they are financially responsible,” said Monroe County Judge/Executive Wilbur Graves.

It does take a team and that the Wellness Board has done a lot work in raising the money, but that the Wellness Board had to have the support of the fiscal court, the city commission members and the community, Crabtree said.

“It is a team effort, but I just don’t want it to be all of sudden one team ignoring the other team,” she said.

Graves said he felt that was understood.

At the open house, Graves said he was pleased with how the fiscal court meeting went.

“The meeting went real well. I’m pleased and certainly glad to see a good turn out for the meeting,” he said.

As for how he hopes things go from here on out, he said, “I don’t really have a preference. Just whoever does it, I’m sure they will do us a good job.”

While several people were touring the building and getting a look at it for the first time, Carol Light was busy finishing her workout.

“I just love the new facility. It’s so nice and clean and they have just about everything. I’m so excited about the other phase coming in with the swimming pool and I come about two or three times a week and just love every minute of it,” she said.

In the past, the Wellness Center has been located in a building that once served as a funeral home and another location that was once a service station.

Light was aware of the controversy that has arisen regarding the project.

“I hope it is settled soon, the right, legal way and what’s best for the whole county,” she said.

Suzanne Keele was also working out Thursday and said she is really enjoying the new facility.

“I love it. After being in old buildings and borrowed and rented places it is nice to have a place of our own,” she said.

Keele comes to the Wellness Center three times a week.

She was also aware of the controversy regarding the project.

“I just want this to move on. I just want it to get built as quick as possible so we can have more room, more space,” she said.

Rep. James Comer, who helped secure funding for the project, was on hand for the open house.

“A Wellness Center is something we’ve needed for a long time and it’s finally becoming a reality. I think the community is excited about it and is ready to support it,” he said. “Once we finish the next phase we will have as a nice a facility as anyone.”

Comer also said he hopes the controversy will be resolved soon.