BOUNTIFUL -- Mayor Joe Johnson said that Farmington's withdrawal from the proposed recreation district is not a snag and that the project will continue.
"I'm very pleased with the coalition of cities we have, and I completely understand why Farmington decided they didn't want to join," Johnson said. "They have their pool, they have their skateboard park, and, really, they might be too far away."
"It's my feeling that we'll move forward and have the public hearing on May 25, and the vote on August 3."
The proposed $23 million recreation center would be built adjacent to the existing Bountiful Recreation Center -- the "Bubble" -- before the old facility was torn down. The existing facility, at 30-years old, is in constant need of repair. In some instances, repair is not possible.
Funding for the facility, which would be split among the cities within the district based on population, would come from a proposed property tax increase. Before Farmington voted not to participate in the project, the estimated tax on a $180,000 home was $36 per year. Johnson said that the price will go up, but not by much.
"We're still looking at $3 - 4 per month. It would have gone up a lot if Farmington were a larger place."
The 2000 Census placed Farmington's population at 13,000, a number that does not reflect rapid, recent growth along its west side. The combined populations of the other five cities -- Bountiful, Centerville, North Salt Lake, West Bountiful, Woods Cross -- is 78,000.
"We ran the numbers with and without Farmington, and the change was not significant," Johnson said. He maintains no ill will toward Farmington.
"We're moving ahead with our program, and they're moving on with theirs -- and theirs is a very good program. Though we wish they were with us, we wish them success."
Johnson said he isn't sure if those outside the recreation district will be charged more for admission costs.
The Bountiful Recreation Center has not done so in the past, although there has been some talk of initiating the practice with the new facility.
"But then you have the problem of the 10-year-old boy who rides his bike down to swim," Johnson said. "Do we ask him for two forms of ID? Do we call his mom? I'm not suggesting that it couldn't be done, but we'd have to work on it."
Johnson remains enthusiastic about the project, and he hopes people within the district understand its worth.
"This is nothing new," he said. "We've grown up with this. It's not a new idea. We've had this for a long time."