Today at 2 p.m. the Caddo Parish Economic Development Committee will meet to review its prior recommendation for the parish to spend $10 million on a pickleball complex. A big crowd of citizens are expected with much drum beating about the need to have the complex, quality of life, etc.
Those that often promote spending public dollars for pet projects usually do not like HARD questions about viability, cost, upkeep. Case in point is the proposed Cross Bayou development that was going to bring untold riches and fame to Shreveport that the Shreveport City Council failed to approve.
Here are some basic questions that should be asked and hopefully answered:
1. The parish has $10 million of authorized bonding capacity that has not been utilized. Were the plans for this facility based on projected, documented market need or just to spend the full $10 million?
2. If this project promises so much success, why has the YMCA or other entity/business not built such a facility?
3. What is the expected fee to play on the courts for the first 3 years of operation--and is that fee per person, per hour, etc? And how was the fee determined?
4. What is the expected cost of the land lease from the YWCA and what term will the lease be? The YWCA can NOT donate the land for the facility as initially advertised.
5. What is the expected management fee for the facility and the "pro shop" that the YMCA is expected to charge in a management contract--and what duration of the contract?
6. How was the number of 500 parking spaces determined to be needed for this facility? The Forbing YMCA has approximately 300.
7. How were the total number of courts determined, how were the number of covered courts determined and how were the number of seats for the championship court determined? Was this based on how much could be built with the $10 million?
8. If the total cost of the facilty exceeds the $10 million proposal, what parish funds will be utilized to pay the cost overrun?
9. When will the payments on the proposed $10 million bond issue begin, and if the revenues generated from the facility are insufficient to make the payments, which parish funds will be utilized to pay the cost overrun?
10. What will be the expected operating costs for insurance, electricity, water, routine maintenance, personnel, etc. for the facilty and who will pay the same--the parish or the YMCA?
11. To maintain a quality facilty how often will the courts--covered and uncovered--need to be replaced and who will bear the costs--the parish or the YMCA?
12. If approved by the full commission, when is a realistic opening date for the facility--and do bond payments begin at that date or earlier?
As they say, the devil is in the details. Hot air blowing promoters of economic projects rarely like to discuss these basic nuts and bolts. Hopefully this will NOT be the case with the Caddo Commission.