[Mike B.]

Story last updated at 9:04 a.m. Friday, January 10, 2003

Martin calls for new approach to events center project!

Eric Swanson, edited by Mike B.

Dodge City, Ford County and the Family Facilities Advisory Board have been looking for a new approach to the proposed special events center, and now they have one.

At a joint meeting of the FFAB and the Dodge City and Ford County commissions Thursday afternoon, Dodge City Commissioner Tom Martin proposed changing the concept behind the special events center project. After further discussion, the city and county commissions directed the FFAB to take a serious look at Martin's proposal.

"I asked the FFAB to consider a conceptual change, to go to two projects instead of the all-events center project," Martin said in an interview after the meeting. "And that would be phase one and phase two. Phase one would be the construction of a convention center on West Wyatt Earp, convenient to the hotels. It would not be as big as an all-events center, per se.

"Phase two would be the expansion of the Civic Center to add an exhibit hall, and the renovation to include additional seating... I think it'll increase the utilization of the Civic Center."

"The public that I've talked to is very much in favor of utilizing the Civic Center site and enhancing the use of the Civic Center," Martin said. "We could build 40,000 to 50,000 square feet (for the Civic Center expansion). We don't have to have as big an overall facility ... because we're gaining the use of the existing Civic Center."

He said by the time the convention center he proposed is built, the city and county will have collected enough money in sales-tax revenues -- about $5 million -- to pay for the facility without having to issue additional bonds.
His proposal drew enthusiastic support from members of the city commission, county commission and the FFAB.

Audience members who spoke generally favored Martin's proposal.

Toward the end of the meeting, Dodge City resident Tom Taylor said he thought Martin's proposal was a good idea.

"I've been pushing this for four years," said Taylor, who serves on the Racing Advisory Board. "We need to keep the Civic Center. This is a positive move. Utilize what we have."

This idea has been floating around town recently. I spoke with Tom Martin today and he still feels this is the way to proceed. Many other community leaders are seeing this as a very positive step.

Several factors that need to be address are:

1. Accessibility-- Not a problem. Central lies to the east. Morgan on the south. Soule on the north. Great accessibility.
2. Drainage—Not a problem.
3. Parking—Plenty of parking to the west. Sure, some work would need to be done, but it is very practical. If more parking was necessary, the ball fields southwest of the civic center could be relocated by the city and turned into parking not just for our Civic Center but also for Memorial Stadium. The way the Demons are playing, we’ll need more parking.
4. Emergency facilties are not far away. Straight shot to the hospital and the D.C.F.D. is just around the corner.
5. The swimming pool close by would be an added feature during summer months. The pool could utilize the new concrete parking lot for the Civic Center that our city commission past this last Monday night. And the landscape is perfect for a water park!
6. The architectural firm of Gossen/Livingston from Wichita has drawn up some rough plot plans for this facility. I believe our city clerk may have copies.

I think this would be a great way to move Dodge City ahead with economic development. What do you guys think?