The value of the arts

MACC frought with necessary upgrades; could lead to tax increase

The Signal Mountain Town Council, as well as the town as a whole, is being faced with a question: Is the Mountain Arts Community Center valuable enough to maintain?

At the Council's Aug. 26 work session, MACC Director Barb Storm, along with Bob Franklin of Franklin Architects, presented a list of proposed renovations and improvements that could amount to more than $1.6 million in costs to the town.

The most immediate improvements needed, situated at the top of the priority list presented, add up to more than $600,000 alone. Included are installing a sprinkler system, upgrading electrical wiring and the existing fire alarm system and installing a new heating and air-conditioning system.

According to Signal Mountain Fire Chief Eric Mitchell, the MACC is currently on the state fire marshal's watch list because of the needed safety improvements.

"I think it's time for the town to accept ownership of the building and maintain it," Councilman Dick Gee said after the presentation. "I think it's time to do proper maintenance, and it's going to cost some money."

The alternative, he added, would be to sell the property.

"If we collectively refuse to maintain the building properly, we, in essence, say it's not very valuable," Gee said.

The town has had ownership of the MACC since 2009, and since then the Council has voted for more than $400,000 to be spent on improvements, noted Storm. The money was spent for a new roof, removal of animals and waste from the attic, and more.

The town has already set aside more than $200,000 in its fiscal year 2013-2014 budget to install the new sprinkler system as well as improve the parking lot, among other capital outlay building projects at the MACC.

Storm said grants to fund projects like those needed at the MACC are hard to come by. Though Gee said the Council needs to explore all grant options for possible funding, he thinks alternatives need to be considered as well.

"It looks like [the improvements cost] more money than we could possibly squeeze out of an operational budget. I think we are going to have to go and borrow some money, and decide how far down this list we go," Gee said. "I want to go down this list pretty far."

The Council discussed the possibility of funding any improvements in a way similar to how Signal Mountain/Middle High School was partially funded - by raising local sales and/or property taxes for a certain period of time and dedicating that additional money to paying back any loan taken out to initially cover the costs.

Both scenarios would require the majority of residents' approval through a referendum.

In the meantime, the Council asked Town Manager Chris Dorsey to find out how much interest might be accumulated if the town takes out a loan from the Tennessee Municipal League bond fund.

"Regardless of the use of the building, [the MACC] is a town asset, and as a town asset, we need to take care of it," said Mayor Bill Lusk.

The matter as a whole will be continually discussed during future meetings.

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