Village resident Diane Coleman-Rogers earned a vote of confidence from village officials last Tuesday in her effort to help create a youth activity center for the village and township.
Coleman-Rogers said an estimated 20 percent of the village and 28 percent of the township populations are aged 18 and under.
She feels those numbers mean there is a growing need to provide young people with a place to gather and have fun.
‘When you’re in your teens, kids don’t have anywhere to go and burn off steam,? she said. ‘I’m proposing that we open up talks with the village, township and schools and see if we can do something.?
Council members applauded the plan, but reminded Coleman-Rogers that such a project will require organization and widespread support from the community.
‘The biggest problem will be buying the property,? said council member John Ranville.
‘The funding shouldn’t be a problem,? he added. ‘The kids can help raise money.?
Village Manager JoAnn Van Tassel said such a project will require ‘buy-in? among all parties.
‘You have to do this in an organized way,? she said. ‘You need to look at the feasibility and do some initial investigation. Then we can identify the various sources for revenue.?
A location for a proposed center will need to be researched, but one such site is the old bus garage.
‘I think it’s a great idea,? said Council President Bill Siver. ‘But it’s always been about liability issues in the past.?
Liability issues aside, ‘I think the old bus garage is a perfect location for this,? Siver added.
With the council seemingly united in support of a youth center, a motion was passed to appoint Van Tassel and council member Michael Toth to a committee of village, township and school representatives to discuss the matter further.
Van Tassel said later that she has contacted the township supervisor and superintendent of schools, asking each of them to appoint two individuals to a committee.
‘We have to do all our homework on this and then move forward,? said Van Tassel.
‘Once we’ve done that, we can get the people and the community behind it,? she added.