GIBSON CO., IN (WFIE) -
Commissioners have voted down the Gibson County Healthy Living Center. On Tuesday, they voted 2-1 against taking the project to the ERC and moving it forward.
"We're just disappointed that our community isn't supporting something that would draw so many new people and businesses to our community," says Jennifer Schneider a Gibson County resident.
Commission president Gerald Bledsoe voted against moving the project forward.
"It was a wonderful, wonderful idea, but financially, the county can't afford it at this time," says Bledsoe.
There was overwhelming support for complex but many had questioned finding and sustaining costs from beginning.
The $15 million complex would have included a swimming and therapeutic pool, basketball courts and a community center.
It was supposed to be funded with Toyota TIF dollars, but Bledsoe says that money is needed for re paving and maintaining roads around Toyota.
"The state keeps cutting the amount of money we receive, so it's getting harder and harder to make a budget," says Bledsoe.
Jennifer Schneider doesn't see it that way.
"The funding is there for the project. Not only would a pool benefit the community, but also the community center. We don't have a place to house large meetings," she says.
Is this the end for the project?
"I have no idea. This ended this particular phase of it. If it's resubmitted in the future, I have no idea," says Bledsoe.
That's exactly what Jennifer is hoping for, "I hope the idea does die here."
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The plan was to build near the intersection of US 41 and 350 south, across from the Toyota plant in Princeton
