Council consensus not unanimous for Senior Center site

By LYNETTE SOWELL 
Cove Leader-Press 

The Copperas Cove city council came to a consensus at Tuesday’s meeting to direct the city to go forward with site selection for the new Copperas Cove Senior Center. 
The previous facility, located on North Drive, had been sold to the Hill Country Community Action Association, which operates the center along with other social services in that building, such as one of the Head Start locations.
At the Oct. 27 council workshop, several locations, the empty lot at 507 S. Main St. which was the site of the old City Hall, the former Golden Corral building 307 Constitution Dr., as well as the empty lot beside the Copperas Cove Civic Center, were discussed.
On Tuesday, the council directed the city to go forward with the 307 Constitution Dr. location. 
The rough cost estimate as presented to the council, is about $3 million, to include purchasing the building, renovation and building costs, equipment, and contingency funds. For the 507 S. Main St. location, the cost to build a 5,400-square-foot facility from the ground up is roughly $3.3 million.
The main reason the council gave a consensus for the Constitution Drive location was the space to expand. 
The Main Street location would make the Senior Center about the same size as it is now, plus be lacking in parking, at around 26 spaces, with the need being for about 40 spaces. The grounds also don’t make it possible to expand the site.
Altogether, the city has funding in the amount of $1,792,098 already earmarked for the project. Funds come from ARPA coronavirus funds as well as the sale of the former senior center. 
The 307 Constitution Dr. location would accommodate as much as 8,000 square feet of room to include meeting space, kitchen, offices, storage, and more. This would also expand the Meals on Wheels area. 
Councilmember Fred Chavez weighed in on the space issue and expanded services for seniors.
“The goals were to expand services and be able to expand a little bit more for our partners in HCCAA. Putting it on South Main is only going to accomplish one of those goals and not having a greater ability to expand for our community put us behind the eight-ball,” Chavez said. “And I don’t think it’s a good idea to build a two-story Senior Center. That would just be a recipe for disaster. So, I’m inclined that 307 Constitution is a better choice overall to get us to where we need to be.”
City Manager Ryan Haverlah discussed the funding shortfall with either site, about $1.5 million or so for either site. 
“In terms of additional funding we need to identify, we met with Hill Country Community Action Association, the Area Agency on Aging and the Central Texas Council of Governments staff to help potentially identify other funding sources for this project,” said Haverlah. 
“Right now, one of the funding sources could be kitchen equipment not in the tune of $250,000, as you saw in the budget on the previous slide. In talking with the Area Agency on Aging, they’re looking at less than $100,000, probably between $50,000-75,000 at most. And so, we still have a good amount of money to identify there. The Area Agency on Aging, HCCAA, and CTCOG are looking into other agencies that might be able to provide funding or do the initial review of those other funding restrictions or requirements.”
It took a little discussion, but the council was not unanimous in its support of the Constitution Drive site.
“I do like to larger area but again I guess I’d like to look at the numbers a little closer. I think Constitution is probably our best choice of the two right now,” said Councilmember Jack Smith.
Haverlah said the city would continue to refine the numbers and look for additional funding sources. 
Councilmember Vonya Hart said why she was not in favor of the Constitution Drive location. 
“I believe it’s very important for our seniors to have the sense of belonging and being a part of community. And with this being built on Constitution, I believe it’s bringing them more on the outskirts of the community. I mentioned before it’s about the sidewalks and having access to the bus routes. So I’m just making that known. I just don’t agree with the Constitution even though I know our goals were to make sure that we can be able to expand. I just don’t feel it’s the best possible spot for our seniors to be if there are other places for us to explore.” 
However, during the regular meeting, the transportation and access to bus routes was addressed with the council approving the new agreement with The Hop, which will begin providing door-to-door service within the city next year.
There was no timetable given on the project, but this will be coming back to the council at an undetermined future date.