Acting on suggestions from city staffers, Anderson’s five-member council unanimously voted Tuesday, July 15, to re-direct $104,446 in state grant funding from a municipal gymnasium project to instead upgrade the Anderson River Park Amphitheater.

Although he supports the change in priorities, council member Keith Webster promised, “I am not going to let city staff forget the concept of a city gymnasium.”

Webster, who finished up a two-year stint as the city’s mayor in January, remains a strong advocate and champion of the municipal gymnasium concept, a structure that he originally envisioned might also provide indoor physical education space for Anderson New Technology High School.

However, after waiting several months for the Anderson Union High School District board of trustees to even consider the matter of partnering with the city on such a project, City Manager Scott Morgan and Assistant City Manager Dana Shigley

decided to propose the shift in priorities.

“It became really difficult for Scott and I to continue to recommend that we hold this $104,446 for a project that is not moving forward when we have a viable (amphitheater remodel) project that is moving forward and is raising grant funds,” Shigley told council members prior to their vote.

Unable to move forward without a viable financial partner on the community gymnasium concept, Morgan and Shigley devised a plan in which up to $47,800 of the grant funds now earmarked for the amphitheater remodel will be used to pay 25 percent of the salary for the deputy director of public works and a similar 25 percent of the salary for the grants and redevelopment manager, both of whom will be heavily involved in the amphitheater project.

The city’s grant writer, Suzanne Lewis, will be able to spend up to 10 hours each week seeking additional funding for the amphitheater’s $1.4 million remodeling.

Likewise, Kevin Kidd of public works will spend a quarter of his time helping plan and oversee construction projects at the amphitheater.

The first phase of construction involves expanding the existing 28-foot by 40-foot semi-circular stage and elevating the stage floor by another 30 inches to allow better visibility from the gently sloping seating bowl that surrounds the stage, according to Ken Hartman, director of the city’s Parks & Recreation Department.

A wheelchair ramp and equipment loading dock will also be added to the stage to allow better access for the handicapped as well as the haulers of band equipment, sound and light systems and related stage dressing, Hartman told the council members at a previous meeting.

Other phases, to be accomplished during the next several years as funding is developed, will provide tiered seating, a promenade walkway, concession stands, new and renovated restrooms and a fence around the entire facility with gated access that will allow promoters to charge admission for special events, Hartman said.

Some of the $176,000 in grants that Hartman has already secured for the amphitheater remodel carry a requirement that the first phase of improvements be completed within one year from the date it was received, Morgan explained to the council as further impetus for moving the project ahead as quickly as possible.

Meanwhile, Webster said he is exploring other financial partners for the municipal gymnasium, including the Cascade Union Elementary School District, which is contemplating a $25 million bond election in November.

Some of the district’s bond money, if approved by voters, could help finance construction of a community gymnasium and performing arts center, Webster said.