Photo: An aquatics center similar to this facility in Batesville could be coming to Mountain Home, if a plan proposed by Mayor Hillrey Adams is approved by city leaders and the voting public.
Mountain Home Mayor Hillrey Adams says an effort is underway to explore development of a community and aquatics center, along with an upgrade to the parks in the city. The announcement came at Thursday’s regular monthly meeting of the Mountain Home City Council.
Adams told the council and those in attendance of an ambitious plan inspired by the interactions he has had with citizens of the city since taking office in 2019. One of Adams’ first interactions involved a man asking for a dance hall in Mountain Home. Adams describes the aspects of the plan.
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Still in the development stages, the mayor’s plan has no dollar amount in place at this time, but Adams says he envisions a temporary sales tax to cover the construction of the facility. He also hopes for a small, permanent sales tax to fund maintenance and operations for the center, which would be located in McCabe Park off of U.S. Highway 62/412 in the southwest corner of the city.
A public meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday evening, Feb. 18, in the council chambers of city hall at 6. Adams hopes to hear public feedback on the facility at that time.
Early plans include an aquatic center with indoor and outdoor pools, with the indoor one suitable for holding competitions for the high school and summer swim teams in the city. Pools would also be able to be used for therapy activities and other classes.
The accompanying community center would provide a boost to the city, according to the Mayor.
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Adams also sees the possibility of driving economic development in the city, due to events that could come to Mountain Home.
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The mayor also says he would expect future development, such as hotels and new restaurants, in response to new events hosted at the center.
Adams says the next step after the public meeting will be development of a price tag for the project and taking the issue to the city council to request a special election to be held later this year. The mayor notes the cost of the special election is already in the city’s budget and would not be an additional expense.
In other council business, the second reading of an ordinance to remove or raze an unoccupied residence, located at 819 Cedar Street (corner of Cedar and Redbud streets) was heard. Mayor Adams anticipates a third and final reading of the ordinance to occur at the council’s next regularly scheduled meeting later this month.
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