Community Center Interest Renewed

Fri., Jan. 21, 2000

From Staff

A new attempt to build a community center for Coeur d’Alene started Thursday with a task force that includes some of the most vocal opponents of last year’s failed effort.

Hecla Mining Co. hosted about 40 business, private and public officials Thursday to kick around ideas for a community center.

“The consensus of that group was that we move forward with a community center,” Sue Thilo said.

The last effort died in November when voters rejected an advisory vote asking whether they wanted tax dollars to build a community center.

No concrete decisions were made Thursday, other than to form a task force to explore ideas, Thilo said.

Those members include Thilo, Dick Panabaker, John Barlow, Jim Johnston, Steve Schenk, Bill Griffith, David Rawls, Mic Armon, Rob Elder and Nancy Sue Wallace.

Johnston actively fought the last community center, saying it would impact health club businesses. John Barlow and the Concerned Businesses of North Idaho lobbied the Coeur d’Alene City Council to pull the advisory vote from the ballot.

“We didn’t look at solutions at all. It’s too early for that,” Thilo said.

The task force will meet again Feb.9.

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Community Center Interest Renewed

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