Volunteers show support for community project
Plans are being made for The Legend to live on in Marion.
Approximately 50 to 60 people from the Marion community attended an informational meeting Monday in the city building basement regarding a proposed community center and movie theater complex.
Members of the board of Marion Advancement Campaign, MAC, organized the meeting to inform potential donors and volunteers of the project.
Mike Powers, chairman of the board, said the proposed community center would be a "big building with a multitude of uses. It could be used for auctions, youth 'lock-ins,' reunions, wedding dances, a facility with uses that Marion currently doesn't have."
The movie theater will be a two-screen theater with a "reasonable amount of seating," continued Powers. "People have asked 'why two screens? Why not just one?' You can't get a movie for just one week," said Powers. The movies are available for two weeks. This will allow a new movie every week which will offer a variety for patrons.
"Professionals have impressed on us the importance of having two screens," said Powers.
The Legend is the name chosen by MAC board members for the movie theaters. A name for the community center has not been chosen, reserving that opportunity for a donor. Donors also could name the individual theaters.
Board members Jami Williams, Susan Cooper, and Mickey Lundy shared their reasons for being involved in the project.
Williams said she volunteered because she likes to raise money.
"I'm a fundraising person," said Williams. "I like to raise big money." She added she liked the project and wanted to help.
Cooper said she volunteered because of Jeff Cady's interest.
"(While employed by the City of Marion) Jeff came to me a couple of years ago with the idea of a community-funded movie theater," said Cooper.
Cooper and Cady went to Beloit to talk with founders of the Mitchell county foundation and theater.
"We thought if Beloit could do this, Marion could."
Cady asked a few community leaders to become involved in the project resulting in the creation of a foundation and its first project.
Cady also is a board member but was unable to attend the meeting Monday evening due to illness.
Lundy said she became involved because "I wanted to see more things happen in the community."
Gene Winkler, board member, updated the audience on the current progress of the project.
"Five acres of land has been acquired along Eisenhower Drive, north of the baseball fields," said Winkler.
The MAC board has applied for a state Kan-Step grant, said Winkler.
Burns used Kan-Step grant funds for a community building and a grant was recently approved for Lincolnville to build a community center.
"The city has to be the vehicle (or conduit) for the project," said Winkler. If approved, grant funds would pass through the city and be distributed accordingly.
The grant will fund 60 percent of a project up to $400,000. The remaining 40 percent comes from the community through money and labor.
The grant will not cover theater equipment but will cover appliances for the kitchen, said Winkler.
An architect will draw-up plans, if the project is approved for funding. The architect will be provided by the state and paid through the grant.
"The architect then determines the amount of labor that is needed," added Winkler, by pulling names and skills from the volunteer lists.
Once the architect has completed the plans, the project will go out for bids. An inspector will be hired by the state with the cost also included in the grant.
"An inspector will be on-site throughout the entire project," said Winkler, to make sure all work is completed per codes.
Being a 501c(3) entity, the foundation could serve as a conduit for the city and other entities in applying for grants.
"A private business person probably wouldn't be able to generate enough revenue to make this a for-profit project," said Powers. The group anticipates enough revenue for the project to make a profit.
However, making a profit is not the objective of the project.
Other information discussed:
— The facility will be owned by MAC.
— A variety of movies will be shown to meet the needs of the community.
— Seating of approximately 150 people in each theater is anticipated with handicapped seating available in both theaters.
— Donations for the project are tax deductible including an hourly rate for donated labor.
— Theaters and community center could be used for seminars.
— Preliminary cost predictions indicate ticket prices could be $5 or less.
— Educational movies could be shown, if there is a demand.
— Movie schedules originally were to be Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Theater professionals have suggested being open seven days a week. Particularly in the summertime, daily matinees have been discussed.
— Movies are scheduled in two-week increments for a specific price. Owners can show the films as many times as they want during that two-week period.
— Stadium-style seating is planned for the theaters with comfortable, plush chairs.
— Approximately $150,000 will be needed for sound systems, projectors, and screens for both theaters and concessions.
Construction cost estimates are $400,000 for building, heating, air conditioning, and plumbing.
— The facility will not have a basement but a storm shelter may be considered.
— Plans include a concrete parking lot which could be utilized when other projects are completed at the site.
"This is the first time any kind of a community foundation has been established in Marion," said Winkler.
Powers commented he has lived in Marion for 13 years. The library project was the first "community project" he was aware of since living in Marion.
With the success of the library project, Powers believes people will support another project to benefit the community.
Another meeting will be scheduled in April when state officials will attend.
Volunteers will need to attend the meeting as a show of community support. Winkler anticipates 200 volunteers on the list by the April meeting.
