A meeting to discuss the efforts to build a recreation center, district court, police department and parking lot in Monticello took place in the auditorium of the Fine Arts Center Feb. 22. 

   The recreation center would be built on the W.C. Whaley Property located on North Main Street. The new district court, police department and parking lot would be built at the current location of the Monticello city offices and old post office. 

   The 50,000 square feet recreation center would contain an Olympic-size eight-lane indoor heated swimming pool, indoor basketball court, indoor walking track, fitness equipment, three small conference rooms that will accommodate 75 people and two large conference rooms, which will accommodate 125 people. 

   Mayor Joe Rogers said the idea was to copy what Sherwood did with its recreation center.   

   “To do this we must pass the 1-cent sales tax that expires Dec. 31,” Rogers said. “I’m asking that we go to 15 years on it.” 

   Stephens Co., a major investment firm, started the meeting with an overview of the funds that will be available from a 1-cent sales tax with one-half cent dedicated to a bond issue. Morgan Keegan & Co. followed with its presentation. 

   A 1-cent sales and use tax collected in Monticello generated $1,766,799 during the most recent 12 months, according to the Arkansas State Treasury. 

   “If money is available, we’d like to build an outdoor swimming pool,” Rogers said.