Former cinema building to become rec center

By Kyle Mooty
LPR Editor
At last week’s meeting, Lockhart City Council agreed to purchase the building, which was the former home of Hometown Cinemas at 120 W. MLK Boulevard, with plans to renovate the property and convert it into a multi-use indoor recreation center.
The purchase, which will be closed next month, will be for $1.7 million. It was approved unanimously, 6-0, with Mayor Lew White absent from the meeting.
Parks and Recreation Director Travis Hughes said the 13,293-square foot facility and its 24-feet high ceilings were adequate for basketball and volleyball courts.
Hughes said a climbing wall, yoga classes, spin bike classes, and meeting areas, could also be held at the new location, and the outdoor space could be used for pickleball, basketball, etc.
Hughes said the two-bathroom facilities would need to be converted to larger facilities that would include showers, and a childcare area, administrative offices, and training areas.
Hughes also said there needed to be kitchen and counter space included at the new location.
“A new rec center would be 6-8 years away,” Hughes said. “This would push that timeline down as far as it being a necessity.”
That concerned Council member John Castillo, who said, “I think this will delay a rec center if we utilize this space right now. I am up for putting some city offices on the second floor, maybe rent it out to our local Chambers of Commerce.”
Hughes hopes a new rec center can eventually be located on the land by the planned aquatics facility near Navarro and Clear Fork elementary schools.
Hughes said retrofitting the new space location would take “no more than 12 months.”
“This property is too good to pass up,” Council member Brad Westmoreland said.
Council member Juan Mendoza added, “It’s a good start in the right direction.”
Hughes said there was ample parking – 104 spaces — available at the location, and he said the site was “a little over 2 acres.”
Castillo said he still wanted the city to get an estimate on a civic center/banquet hall.

In other business:

• City Council approved roof improvements to be included in its remodeling of the downtown fire station on the corner of Market and Church streets. A representative of architectural firm Studio Steinbomer said if tiles were to break under the current roof, it could be “catastrophic” due to the asbestos. The roof is only about 10 percent of the total remodel cost of $1.8 million, but one of the most vital items to be remodeled due to the asbestos.Council member Jeffry Michelson said he wanted to move forward on the project.
• “How much longer are we going to discuss it before we see something happen?” Michelson asked.
• Council member Castillo agreed, saying the project had been on the books for nine years.
• “Let’s go ahead and do it and do it right,” Castillo said.
• It was noted that 25 percent of the Downtown Revitalization Project has been completed in about six months, and the project is about 3 and-a-half months ahead of schedule. The target date for completion is May 25, 2006.
• Lockhart Police Chief Gary Williamson presented the Lockhart Freedom Act’s (LFA) first quarterly report following a City Charter amendment that asked for decriminalization on possession of small amounts of marijuana.
  Williamson noted possessing two ounces was equivalent to getting a speeding ticket. He also noted that the LFA wanted arrest statistics broken into demographics. Those will be released on a quarterly basis.
• Coffee with a Cop will be Tuesday, April 15, from 9-10:30 a.m. at Walmart (1904 S. Colorado St.). The public is invited to meet with Lockhart Police for conversation, coffee, and breakfast treats.
• Council unanimously approved park pavilion and swimming pool rental fees, as hourly rates and 5-hour rates as well as the price for deposit.
  The hourly rates for City Park’s Main Pavilion is $20, $100 for a 5-hour block, and a $100 deposit.
  The hourly rate for the City Park’s Central and North pavilions, as well as the Maple Park Pavilion, is $18, $90 for a 5-hour block, and a $100 deposit.
  The hourly rate for the City Park’s South Pavilion and the Pecos Park Pavilion is $15, $75 for a 5-hour block fee, and a $75 deposit.
  The hourly rate for the City Park Swimming Pool is $75, with a 2-hour block fee of $150, and a $25 deposit.
  The deposit fees are refundable if warranted.
  The new rates are effective immediately and will be implemented with the use of online reservations and rentals, which can be made by visiting www.rec.us/lockhart.
• The splash pads in Lockhart are set to open on Tuesday, April 1.
• Xavier Schulke built and donated a wooden bench to the Dr. Eugene Clark Library. The bench was built in just one weekend and is now located on the second floor of the Masonic Building. A plaque, with Xavier’s name and date of donation, will be placed on the bench.
• Council member Castillo added at the end of the meeting there had been some car thefts lately and asked citizens to lock their vehicles.