JB Wells Park or JB Wells Arena?

If I understand it correctly it was 1996 that the JB Wells idea was brought to life.  It was brought to the citizens of Gonzales as a place for ALL of Gonzales to be able to enjoy. In nearly 170 acres there would be walking trails, sports fields and courts, and much more with a great arena as a crowning jewel.

Since then citizens and city have worked together with state agencies to make phase 1 happen.  The areans and several other buildings are out there.  We've even added to the original parking/rv slots not once, but twice.  We've had several attempts to basically double the size of the rodeo facilities.  We've had additional 'studies' done about the arena portion of the JB Wells Park.

Then Tuesday night came.  That's right our city council had on their agenda to spend $18,000 for a feasibility study for...wait....oh do you know already?.....it coming...yes a second arena AND...here's the good part, the 20,000-50,000 sq ft building (*snifff...yes, that's the smell of the Texas Center coming back*...the rat sticks to high heaven!).

Now during the meeting City Manager Barnes alluded to the fact that every time we have an event that the work crews had to move the sand from the current arena to replace the sand and it cost the city serious money.  Not so.  What he told me the next day was fees are about $4000 to move the sand, and the cost to Gonzales is about $500 to do.  He made it sound like it was costing us serious money every time we had to this, not that we were making $3500. (**** insetered 10/11 - I was told I misunderstood, and that's we make about $4k a rodeo so the $500 is covered****) He then told me the next day he's more concerned about manpower than dollars.  REALLY?  I understand we're fighting oil companies for labor, but there is manpower out there.

I spoke before the meeting  addressing the fact that 1 segment of Gonzales has been promised, and promise delivered for what belongs out at JB Wells.  And while I love the arena, there is a huge portion of Gonzales that are still waiting for their end of the promise to be upheld.  That once the rest of the community had been delivered their end of the promise I would, if it was fiscally responsible, support growing the arena, but not until.

This was NEVER meant to be JB Wells Arena.  It was always JB Wells Park, that had an arena in it.

I understand that we could get larger rodeos if we kept expanding.  But I know that we have soccer leagues playing in cramped quarters instead of nice fields at JB Wells.  I know that there are lots of people that would use walking trails.  I know we have a great volley ball league.  I know that a pool over there would be used not only by citizens but by visitors alike.  And that's just a start.

And for the records, feasibility studies were done BEFORE we started working on JB Wells.  Texas Parks and Rec gave us money to build not an arena, but a park.  I'm a bit miffed the state hasn't come down and asked for their money back or for the project to be completed as approved.

With the exception of maybe the museum, there hasn't been a bigger drain on our tax dollars than JB Wells arena over the last several years.  Even now we still don't have it where we can just pull a budget and P&L on JUST the arena like we were promised 2 years ago.  But last I heard Mr Barnes anticipated it to break even, but said it was definitely NOT in the black this year to date at the downtown town hall meeting.

So that's on the arena, what about this building?  "Oh, no this is not the Texas Center".  Really?  A large building for community usage is the Texas Center.  Metal building or not.

"We rent tents at about $15,000 a year for rodeos, and this would eliminate that need".  And apparently there is some private money willing to help with this.  THEN WHY AREN'T THEY PAYING THE $18,000 FOR THIS STUDY???  That's yours and my dollars.  Trust me I understand the difference between renting and buying.

So am I for a second arena and a building out there?  Yes RIGHT AFTER the rest of the citizens see what they were promised almost 25 years ago when this started.  Put the bulldozers out and start the courts and playing fields, the paths and THEN and ONLY THEN am I for spending another dime on the arena expansion.

If Dr Graham would like to haul his bulldozers over there to make it happen, I'm all for it.  Even better.  But the 97% of Gonzales that is still not represented out at JB Wells needs to get their fair due before we lose all vision of a great family park and it becomes what most people grumble about it has ALREADY become JB Wells Arena. 

I heard this week a quote that I loved and think applies here, "Our projects started need to equal our projects finished."  Well we have an outstanding project out at JB Wells that needs to be finished before we start another project.

God Bless,
Dennis Nesser