Club Owner States Case Against Community Center Voters Must Decide Whether To Raise Taxes To Build $6.3 Million Facility

Opponents of the proposed community center took their case to the people Tuesday night to fight what they call an ill-conceived plan that would doom taxpayers and private health clubs.

Jim Johnston, co-owner of Ironwood Athletic Club, led the speakers before a divided crowd of about 100 people at the Lake City Senior Center.

Johnston blasted city leaders and members of the Center Project Foundation for not including health-club owners in the planning stage.

“I think that was the biggest mistake of the entire project,” he said. “Had we been (involved), we would not be here today in a debate that has gotten pretty nasty.”

On Tuesday, voters will decide whether to support a tax increase to build a $6.3 million community center.

To pass, the advisory vote needs a majority of 50 percent plus one vote.

Mayor Steve Judy said if the tax increase passes, construction could begin as early as next summer, so long as the required 2,000 memberships are secured.

The 60,000-square-foot center would include a 25-yard-by-25-meter L-shaped pool, a gym, an elevated track, a 40-foot climbing wall, exercise space, offices, meeting rooms and locker rooms.

“This is, in fact, a city-owned health club,” Johnston said. “It is the classic case of unfair competition.”

Johnston said he and other business owners support the idea of a community center, but believe the current plan would not be self-supporting, as city leaders have mandated.

“There is only one way it can be self-supporting. And that is for the city and the foundation to buy Ironwood Athletic Club and 24-Hour Fitness,” he said. “Neither is for sale, but we would rather sell than compete with what we see is coming.”

Phillip Althen, of Ironwood Athletic Club, said the foundation’s revenue projections are off and would lead to losses every year.

“I don’t think the average taxpayer cares if we stay in business,” Althen said, “but they should be worried.”

Coeur d’Alene resident Jerry Mote said the Foundation leaders, including Janet Robnett, Curtis Clark and Konni Leichner, all live in Hayden Lake.

“If taxes go up, they won’t have to pay. I’m not opposed to them putting this in Hayden Lake and letting them pay for it,” Mote said, eliciting applause from the half of the crowd not wearing support pins. “This is another case of liberals wanting government to provide services.”

Robnett said she and the other foundation members own businesses in Coeur d’Alene and pay city taxes.

“I’m sorry to see the first personal attack,” she said. “To suggest that we are freeloading on this is really beneath the legitimate discussion.”

Robnett said health club owners wanted to eliminate all weights, the climbing wall and the track from the plan.

“Their list was just endless,” she said. “We want a community center that has a variety of activities.”

City resident Helen Shaw said it’s not a given that the community center would compete with health clubs.

“I think some of the information presented here was distorted,” Shaw said. “I don’t think the health clubs will be designing programs for children to come in for activities after school.”

Dan Lyons, who lives just outside city limits, said he can’t afford more taxes.

“If it costs $400 for a membership to use the community center, the average kid can’t afford it,” Lyons said. “Therefore it will only be for the wealthy or people who just moved in.”