The effort to bring a new wellness center to the community recently moved forward.
The Seward City Council at its Oct. 19 regular meeting authorized a letter of intent to the Seward Wellness Committee to put a measure to increase sales tax on the May 2022 primary ballot. The measure would called for the increase of the city’s sales tax, which would be used to fund approximately a third of the wellness center project. The city will discuss the specifics regarding how much the sales tax would increase, if approved, and how long it would be in effect at a later date.
The letter of intent was to allow the wellness committee to inform potential donors the city is looking to run the facility and to show them the item will likely be placed on the ballot in May. The committee recently applied for a $5 million State of Nebraska-Shovel Ready Capital Recovery and Investment Grant, which requires a match of up to $5 million.
Committee member Jana Hughes said pledges need to be collected and turned into the grant committee by the end of 2021.
Hughes said if the committee receives the pledges and is approved for the Shovel Ready grant, as well as other significant grants, along with the community’s approval of the sales tax increase, the project will go to design planning in the summer, with potential construction beginning in the fall of 2022.
As planned, the wellness center will contain a six lane swimming pool, two basketball/all purpose courts, a walking track, exercise and cardio room, a children’s area, a multi-use space and locker rooms. Hughes said the facility will also be open for after school programs and youth activities.
Hughes said the facility would be an asset to the community because it offers an additional venue for recreation, as well as a place for children to explore healthier lifestyles and new activities.
“If you have a wellness center, you can go and swim, you can shoot hoops…it just gives you something else to do inside,” she said. “We’ve got a lot of awesome, outdoor amenities in Seward, but this gives us something inside.”
Dr. Matt Dominy, wellness committee member, said that the facility would encourage more active living among Seward residents, but would also provide a boost for the local economy.
“It’s an economic driver as well. We’d be having tournaments for basketball, volleyball, you name it,” he said. “We’ll be able to bring a lot of people into the community who will not only come to the wellness center, but eat at our restaurants, get gas from the gas station and be contributors to our economy.”
The wellness committee recently received a pledge of land north of the middle school for the wellness center. Hughes said the area is ideal for the facility.
“It’s across from the middle school, the (Plum Creek) trail will eventually go right by it and it’s within walking distance of all the schools,” she said, adding the land includes additional space for a possible expansion in the future.
Hughes said that whether or not a citizen supports an increase of sales tax, she encourages all eligible voters to participate in the vote in May, should the item reach the ballot.
“I want a vote from the people honestly,” she said. “If we get a vote from the Seward people that they’re willing to put some of those funds into it, it shows support for it.”
