Why do we need a Community Center?

There have been discussions about creating a community center in Slater for years. Back in 2014, a group from ISU extension came to do a public meeting to assess the needs for the Slater community and the response was overwhelmingly clear – Slater needs, and the citizens want, a Community Events Center.

The primary space we’re going to create will include a large room to be used for a number of community events hosted by the Slater Community Club that are already held on Main Street like Christmas on Main and Slater’s Town Divided Tailgate. Though the Slater Fire Department has been gracious and let Community Club use their space, hosting events for outside groups is not the intended use of the Fire Station. The space in the Community Center will be sized to fit a large crowd in one room and will be dividable so that it can work for different sized groups or events. The room will be available to community members to use for a multitude of events from family reunions to wedding receptions, class reunions to high school graduation celebrations.  We also foresee it being used by a number of local businesses for large meetings or events, creating economic growth for our small town. The library will also be able to access this space when their programming needs and event size is larger than the library can accommodate.

Why do we need a new library?  We have a beautiful library!

Yes, we are extremely proud of our library, but the answer to that question is SPACE .  Due to increase in programming, patron use, and town growth, our beautiful library built 33 years ago no longer meets our needs.  After prompting from the City Council, the library board began to look into the current and future needs of the library.  We were encouraged by the State Library of Iowa to apply for a grant for a space needs assessment.  Thanks to funding from this grant, in February of 2019 we were able to have a professional assessment done.  The study found we are in great need of both programming space and collection space.  Below is some information from that assessment which shows how we compare to other libraries our size (Class C) in the state, as well as our growth from the last 10 years.  This assessment shows where we are now, and projects our needs for the next 20 years.  The complete assessment can be found below.

What will the Community Center be used for?

The primary space we’re going to create will include a large room sized to fit up to 225 people at round tables that can be divided into up to two smaller spaces to accommodate different sized groups or events. The Community Center will be used for a number of community events hosted by the Slater Community Club that are already held on Main Street like Christmas on Main and Slater’s Town Divided Tailgate. The space will be available to community members to rent for a multitude of events from family reunions to wedding receptions, class reunions to high school graduation celebrations and much more. We also foresee it being used by a number of local businesses for large meetings or events. The library will also access this space when their programming needs and event size is larger than the library can accommodate.  This space will also hold our city council meetings allowing for more public viewing, better sound, and visible presentations for the public.

Why is it on Main Street?

The intention of the building committee is to make the best decisions for the needs of the Library, Community Center and the City of Slater. By having this new building on Main Street, we expect to spur economic growth in our community. There are many communities with neglected Main Streets and we want to be sure that Slater does not become one of them. The Library and Community Center will help to keep Main Street vibrant and bustling. It is convenient to get to and we foresee that the patrons coming to the Library or Community Center will also visit local businesses. From a fiscal perspective, having the Library and Community Center and City Hall in ONE building and being located on Main Street opens up a number of grant opportunities that wouldn’t be available in another location.

Why is it so expensive?

• As a building committee, we have hopes to build the largest facility possible that will meet Slater’s needs for many years.
• Both the Library and Community Center will be fully furnished. Meaning this budget is it – there isn’t the cost to build plus the cost of all the stuff that needs to be inside the building to make it functional.
• We need to comply with ADA regulations for accessibility and building a two-story building incurs some additional costs, such as an elevator (this applies regardless to which space occupies the second floor).
• We are investing in our Main Street, and have worked with our architects at FEH Design to develop an attractive design that has a historic Main Street style. We have hopes that this investment in our Main Street will spur additional economic development for the area.
• The costs for the building are typical for this type of project in central Iowa.

What information led the city and the building committee to combine the Library, Community Center, and City Hall into one building?

• Putting the three together will allow our very popular library to access the community center for large programs that require more programming space than the library alone could accommodate, such as the summer reading program.
• A community center and larger library are definite needs for the community. Combining them into one two-story building is more cost effective than the cost of construction on two buildings.
• The idea to include City Hall into the building came from a suggestion from residents in a community survey.  This will streamline our city services, allow for easier oversight to the community center and free up a building on Main Street for additional business opportunities.

Why is the library on the 2nd floor?

When considering how to maximize the footprint of the lot at 405 Main, the architects considered scenarios with the library on the 1st or the 2nd floor. The library on the second floor was chosen as the preferred option for these reasons:

• Size: The current design has more square footage on the second floor, and the space needs for the library are greatest, according to the Needs Assessment completed by a professional consultant.
• Traffic: The library will have consistent traffic, but smaller numbers of patrons on many occasions. When large library groups gather, they will still use the community center space on the first floor. By contrast, the community center will seat up to 225 (that’s a lot of people to go up and down the stairs or use the elevator at the same time).
• Feasibility of Large Events: With large groups, 1st floor access is more efficient for large events for guests, catering, and other event support services. If we have the Community Center on the second floor we would need to invest in the cost of another elevator and the maintenance on both elevators being used often to transport people and equipment to the event space.  Imagine Christmas on Main… with our current plans, we can open the doors to provide a flow of traffic in and out of the building easily. Now… imagine all those people gathered on the second floor trying to come downstairs for the tree lighting all at once and the congestion and safety issues that could cause.
• Safety: With a Main Street location, a second floor library eliminates direct access to Main Street for children. In addition, when either facility is closed, those spaces will not be accessible.
• Visibility: Although the library is on the second floor, it will remain highly visible by both the big, bright windows and clear signage on the building.
• A second floor library will have more natural light than if located on the bottom floor.
• The addition of City Hall allows for direct access on the first floor and a presence when entering the building.

What about parking?

Parking continues to be one of our most asked questions in regards to the project.  It is exciting to see Slater grow with new business and economic opportunities.  With this growth will come a thriving Main Street which is something to be thankful for, rather than an alternative empty Main Street like many other small towns in our state. Currently, there are 86 designated parking areas on Main Street, with additional street parking. There is the potential for additional parking to be added and the city is committed to looking into viable solutions for future growth. Though it may require that folks park a block or so away and need to walk to their destination, that’s really no further than most parking lots at hotels, big box stores or entertainment venues. Also, parking has not been a concern for other events when Main Street is blocked off, like Christmas on Main or Slater’s Town Divided Tailgate. The Building Committee and city will continue to explore options for parking, however we feel that the benefits of the project on Main Street outweigh the downsides of not having a defined parking lot.

How much will it cost to rent the community center?

At this time, we don’t have the exact rental cost for the community center space. However, we do know that the main purpose of this space is not to generate income for the city, but to provide an affordable service to it's residents.  The costs will need to take into account the maintenance of the facilities and will include the use of the kitchen, tables, chairs, AV equipment, etc.

What will happen to the Senior Center and the Log Cabin?

The Senior Center and the Log Cabin will remain open for rental as they always have.

Who's on the Building Committee?

The Building Committee was formed to help facilitate the project and is made up of Slater Library Board members, Community Club members, City Staff and Slater residents.  The current committee members are:

• Kyra Wilcox-Conley
• Erica Weeks-Burger
• Kellie Franksain
• Joel Newman
• Lora Gibson
• Logan Conley
• Jennifer Davies
• Jennifer Gogerty