Arkansas City commissioners, Cowley College and school district officials, along with an indoor tennis association are struggling to agree on how to make the best use of the Agri-Business building, a community-event center that hosts everything from mixed-martial arts to daddy-daughter dances.
The debate centers on the future of the tennis courts inside the facility and the fees being charged for usage. One option involves removing the tennis court surface and replacing it with a more durable one.
The new floor would allow a larger variety of activities and be easier to clean and maintain, according to city officials. It would cost $65,000, but last 30-40 years.
A second option would be to keep the current flooring and increase usage fees for the indoor courts to help defray expenses.
City Manager Nick Hernandez said the courts need resurfacing, which would cost approximately $13,000. Depending on usage, the court floor could require a resurface every five years.
Hernandez proposed that the tennis association pay a fee of $1,250 per year, then pay $2 per court per hour, if the courts remained.
(Read more: The Arkansas City Traveler)