July 2019 | Vol. 19 Iss. 07
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WILL WEST JORDAN (FINALLY) GET A THEATRE? By Erin Dixon | erin@mycityjournals.com
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ellane Jessop, band director at West Jordan High School, is ending his volunteer career and is hopeful that West Jordan will finally see its own cultural arts center. “I’ve tried for 23 years to get a Cultural Arts Center,” he said. “I’m retiring, and I hope that I’m still alive when we get a cultural arts building.” Ground was broken for an arts center in late 2017. Then nothing happeneds. Visit westjordanjournal.com for previous stories on this subject. During the meeting in June, a workshop was held to discuss details for the Cultural Arts Center, hopefully moving plans forward. Councilmember Chris McConnehey explained the difficulties city officials have had fulfilling previous commitments. “2016 is when we really started in earnest trying to figure out ‘what can we do,’” he said. “We sat down with the art groups; we prioritized everything. [The builder] came back and said this is what we can get for you for $8.5 million. With the architect, we saw the price tag increase a little bit further. Pretty soon, we were at $11 million when we had originally said $8 million. And then we go out to bid the contractor came Travis Green addresses City Council, voicing his concerns about the delays and lack of communication about the Cultural Arts Center. (Erin Dixon/ back and said ‘The number you guys got is an old number. City Journals) Prices have gone up significantly, you’re looking $13 millforward.” nnehey said. ish.’” Councilmember Kayleen Whitelock disagreed. “If we’re The $13 million price tag put the planned arts center out Progress? of reach. June is budget season, and the West Jordan City Council going to expend $6 million then we need to get it right,” she approved to put $3 million toward the center and promised said. “I’m building this for residents of our city. I want to have Communication gap at least 300 seats. I feel that 300 seats gives you enough room Other community members voiced their frustrations, pri- an additional $3 million next fiscal year to finish the project. big enough to support lots of different things not big enough marily with the lack of communication from the city to Arts Councilmember Danyce Steck ensured council that the fundto attract a lot of outside things.” ing is available. council. Mayor Jim Riding tried to move the discussion along. “One half of the Community Arts Center is coming from “We watched the site sit dormant with no news from the “We heard from the 501(c)3 group tonight that they would be city, and we were disappointed when news reached us eventu- the Buildings Capital Fund, and we anticipate budgeting $3 happy with 200,” he said. “If we would just agree on that so ally that the site had been abandoned and plans had changed,” million next year. That $6 million is sitting in reserves.” that Mr. Brickey can move ahead with this.” The city may get additional funding from the county, but Travis Green, Arts Council marketing specialist, said. “I feel Subsequently, other councilmembers quietly bid, auction that it’s an embarrassment to the city. We cannot function as there are contingencies. style, other seating numbers. “County money was based on the presentation of the transients within our own city. I’m not asking for rushed deCouncilmember Chad Lamb, “250.” velopment of an art center, but I am asking that there be more location previously identified,” City Manager Dave Brickey Councilmember Zach Jacob,”262.” said. “The county said you’d need to come back and identify communication with the arts and residents of West Jordan Lamb, “251.” the new place; they want to see the new location and a new about the progress being made.” Riding, “250 going once ... 250 going twice…” Victor Groves, chair of the Cultural Arts Society of West proposed plan.” In the end, the decision was to move forward with getting To move forward, the council needed to approve the Jordan, who has visited council meetings often over the past designs for a 250, fixed and sloped seating arrangement. number of seats for the building. A long discussion ensued, few years said, “I’ve mentioned before that the old Sugar Fac“Once it’s ready, we will send it to all of you; please don’t tory location is ideal. We don’t need a facade on a busy boule- interjected with jovial, frustrated remarks from council memchange it,” Brickey said. “Let me get this done for you. We vard. We don’t need a 600- to 800-seat arena. 200- to 400-seat bers. will then push it for it as fast as we can.” l “I think that seating should be closer to 200-ish,” McCowill be an ideal venue. Please do the right thing and move it
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