Bond 2017 Questions - Tomato Bowl Questions (January 30, 2017)

 

 

Yes!  The front of the Tomato Bowl and the walls surrounding would remain the same.  The front of the main entrance would have the electrical boxes and wires moved, a new roof put on, and the trim painted.  The hill, steps, totem pole, and arched doors would still be exactly the same.  The original ticket booths would be totally updated and put back into use.  IF necessary, the far back wall (behind the visitors stands) would be repurposed and used inside the stadium. 

 

Should the bond pass in May, the interior would be completely taken out and replaced with an up-to-date stadium blending the familiar outside historic look with the new facility inside.   

 

 

 

2.  Several questions about the amount proposed to renovate the Tomato Bowl:

 

• “ I was all for the upgrade but when I see 20 million (I am a property tax payer) I think wow - that 20 million would go so far for educational purposes.” 

• “ 20 million - but can't get laptops for the classrooms for kids that would improve how they learn.....i was all for the upgrades but 20 million - i think we have lost what jisd in in the business for.” 

• “Why not just forget Tomato Bowl and build a brand new stadium instead of patching something old that will have to be fixed through the years?”

• “Add some bleachers to Cook Field and do what J'ville can afford.”

 

 

• 6000 home side seating; 2000 visitors seating
• ADA restrooms on both sides to match the legal requirement of the new seating (more than Tomato Bowl due to a city waiver)
• ADA parking accessibility and ADA seating
• The legal requirement for this number of seats is 1800 parking spots. The parking lot adjacent to Cook Field has 180.  This requirement is waived at Tomato Bowl due to the historic district it is built in. 
• ADA Press Box addition
• New Scoreboard
• New ADA Concession Areas
• New dressing areas for visiting teams and referees
• Ambulance entry
• Ticket booth
• Additional fencing

• Purchase new property
• Construct new stadium with same capacity as Tomato Bowl
• Parking requirement is 1800
• Restroom capacity must meet legal requirements to match seating

 

•            “I just know it won’t take that much to build a stadium. They should have thought of that before the built the practice field and other things when they could have used that to fix the Tomato Bowl since it is more important.”

 

•           “….all that money spent down on a practice field, and now they come to us with this?”

 

               Mauldin Field was listed as the #1 priority on the 2014 Facilities Committee list.  The facility was renovated with a large donation from the Mark & Judith Cook Foundation that specifically targeted that facility upgrade.  JISD had fund balance available (1 million) to add to the Cook donation (1.25 million) to completely update the track to a competition track, turf field, new lighting, and new sound system.  More seating is needed, but JISD chose not to pursue that due to the lack of available funds for a project that would legally require more restrooms and parking spots to match the increased number of seating.  The additional requirements caused the cost to be much more than the district considered prudent.   The other new facility at JHS, the Multi-Purpose Athletic Complex for girls was also built with left over bond funds and available fund balance.  

 

 

 

3.  “So there is no talk of the facility needs at the Middle School?  I find it very difficult to believe the only facility improvement needed is a weight room.”

 

The 2014 Facility Committee comprised of mainly community volunteers formed to research and prioritize the facility needs remaining in Jacksonville ISD.  This 35 member committee met for 3 months and thoroughly reviewed every facility in the district.  At the present time, JMS is serving the needs of the students with enough room, new roof, and no mechanical deficiencies.  The major concern of securing the campus has been completed with fencing.  Upgrades that have been identified and are needed include new furniture throughout, new carpet, and regular maintenance. Those needs are already in process and scheduled to be completed in-house with 3-5 years.  

 

 

4.  Questions about the financial integrity of JISD:

 

• “JISD will only spend about 5 million to fix the stadium and pocket the other 15 million......                                                       
• “In my opinion, I think until some of these districts start getting better ratings with the state*, their funding needs to be put on hold. We have a “no pass – no play” rule for players, it can work here, too.  **Fact is fact; too many taxpayers aren’t happy with how JISD $’s are spent.”                                                                                                                                                 
• “These are the last major needs that need to be done….at least until they come up with more***.….does it also make since that JISD should be, and should have been for many years, more responsible with the money they receive?”                                            
• “This district and the board have been spending money for years now like they have their own government issue printing press….Tighten up JISD – put that checkbook up and go back to the budget and find some money.”