Voters in Fulton approved a half-cent sales tax increase in April 2016 that would add about $700,000 to the city budget.
According to the city's 2015-25 master plan, about 60 percent of that sales tax would go to the Parks and Recreaction Department and 40 percent to storm water improvements.
That tax took effect a year ago and is now being collected. A Springfield firm, SAPP Designs, was retained in an advisor status. City Council members heard a few ideas and some dollar amounts during a Tuesday night presentation.
Suggestions include three possible projects: a community recreation center, a new swimming pool and/or baseball field complex that could host competitive baseball tournaments ,and generate income and increase tourism.
"The big question is, are these facilities going to lose money or make money?" Clay Caswell, parks and recreation director, asked.
By his accounts, the baseball complex and community building could generate income.
"It depends on the design - but we're not ready to ask for anything yet," he added.
Michael Sapp, a registered architect, has been president of SAPP Design more than 25 years. He spoke of market and operational studies, trends specific to the Fulton area, working with minimum amenities required and sources of income to support the facilities. He's also looked at construction costs, and said he feels the baseball and community center facilities could generate income in three to five years.
"It will take one year to figure out how the building works and the programming level," Sapp said. "Figuring out how facilities should be used takes time."
Plans are to construct five or six baseball fields of varying sizes in a complex behind the city's Tennyson Road fire station. The 2015-25 master plan calls for five fields appropriate for a variety of age groups, lights for night games, concessions, offices, restrooms and maintenance areas. An estimated cost of $1.5 million was noted on the master plan.
Other future recreational needs, according to the current master plan, include a new swimming pool to replace one by Fulton High School constructed in 1983.
The master plan describes a community center at Veterans Park, which could be used as a storm shelter as well as for concerts, banquets and receptions among other things. Amenities could include a large multi-purpose area with spectator seating, classrooms and meeting rooms, locker rooms with shower facilities, kitchen/concessions area, fitness areas, offices and storage. An aquatic center could eventually be located next door.
This project has been identified as a community need since the 1982 master plan. A 2007 community survey put the community space as the No. 1 need. An estimated cost for the facility was given as $3.4 million with another $2 million for an outdoor, family friendly aquatic center.
"Our goal with this project was to build a multi-purpose building," Caswell said. "We want a building that has things going on."
City officials agreed more discussion regarding this project will be forthcoming. The master plan can be seen on the parks and rec page at fultonmo.org.
In other action:
Approval was given for two Halloween events. Court Street United Methodist Church will host a trunk-or-treat event 4-8 p.m. Sunday, and some adjacent streets will be closed for safety. The Brick District's annual Halloween event will be downtown 4-6 p.m. Tuesday. There is also a Kids Fest 2017 from 5:30-7 p.m. at First Baptist Church on Court Street, so people should watch out for trick-or-treaters downtown and everywhere else.
Additionally, the Fulton Stream Team will conduct its second annual Scream Clean 2-4 p.m. Sunday along Stinson Creek, from the park behind the softball fields on Route O, then west to Memorial Park. For information, call the city's engineering department at 573-592-3111.
After a public hearing, Paul Dorsey of Star Taxi was given approval to do business in Fulton.
Another public hearing regarding the city's 2018 budget elicited no comments and the budget ordinance was given a second reading. It will likely be approved at the next City Council meeting at 6:30 Nov. 14.
An ordinance was presented in support of an April referendum that could establish a local use tax for internet purchases. This tax would add a 2.5-percent tax to internet purchases for the city's General Revenue budget.
Residents on East 6th Street asked for assistance from the city regarding problems with a property owner they say is disturbing the peace.
A power outage Monday morning affected 74 customers on the east side of downtown Fulton. It was caused by a squirrel in equipment.