Warrenton aldermen Tuesday night agreed to spend $21,250 to update a feasibility study to help determine public support for a sales tax initiative and if the city can afford to operate an indoor recreation facility. Aldermen unanimously voted to enter into an agreement with Ballard King and Consultants, a Colorado-based firm specializing in recreation facility planning and operations. This is the same company that completed the study in 2008. Two weeks earlier in a work session, city officials renewed talks on the possibility of constructing an indoor recreation center, more than two years after voters narrowly shot down a sales tax increase. It was the first extensive discussion about the proposed project that was put on hold due to the downturn in the economy. A proposed one-half cent sales tax sought by the city was defeated 1,587-1,463 on Nov. 4, 2008. Had the proposal passed, the city’s sales tax would have increased from 7.975 to 8.475 cents. A simple majority was needed for passage. The proposed indoor recreation center considered by city officials then was going to be around 35,000 to 45,000 square feet in size and include an aquatic center, gymnasium, walking track, fitness equipment and multipurpose rooms. At that time, the projected cost of the new facility was $10.5 million. It was to be built on 7 acres the city previously purchased along Market Street behind the Warrenton 8 Cinema complex. The feasibility study will provide new estimated construction costs and operating expenses, along with surveying residents a second time to see what attractions they want in the facility and whether they would support a tax hike. Once started, which is expected to be soon, the study should be completed within 60 days, according to Terri Thorn, director of operations/finance officer. Updating the feasibility study is just the start of the process to determine if there is enough public support to warrant proceeding with the project. The city has until Jan. 24, 2012, to place a sales tax measure on the ballot for the April municipal election. Prior to voting on the contract, Ward 1 Alderman Dan Dieckmann raised the possibility of having the feasibility study updated by city staff. Though he pointed out he was in favor of having a recreation center built, he wondered if the study could be completed in-house to save money since it was conducted only three years ago. Other aldermen, however, supported the need to proceed with having Ballard King update the study. Ward 2 Alderman Fred Flake said an updated feasibility study would provide valuable information needed on whether or not city officials should proceed with a sales tax initiative. One of the areas that could be different from three years ago is related to construction costs and how an economy downturn. “I am in favor of building this thing, provided we can get enough people in there to make it go,” Flake said. “They say the recession is over, but I haven’t seen anything to prove that. I think we get some information out of doing this that would be valuable to us. Certain things have changed in the last two years.” Ward 1 Alderman Phil Tallo agreed. “Something the scope and size of this, we want to make sure we get all the information we can to help us make a better decision,” he said. “I think the feasibility report does really help us. I don’t take lightly spending $21,000, but I think it’s money well spent.”