The Mandan Park Board Monday asked that two cost studies be brought to the table when negotiating this month for the long-term ownership and operation of the Mandan Community Center.

One study would determine how much all repairs would be for the 35-year-old building to keep it useful and inhabitable.

A second would weigh the expense of building a new structure.

The figures would be considered during the Jan. 28 noon Community Center Advisory Board Committee meeting at the Community Center.

"There are some things we need to address as far as the community needs and the staffing needs are," said Parks and Recreation Director Cole Higlin following the meeting.

"We're going to get some estimates on the costs to compare renovation versus building new. We want to get the biggest bang for the buck," he said.

The park board also discussed building a new facility. "Is it more beneficial to the community to spend $3 million to $5 million on renovating, or $3 million to 5 million on building new? That's why we want to to do the comparison. What are we going to get out of it?" Higlin said.

Ownership of the structure has been debated for nearly five months. In September, the city of Mandan offered to forfeit the center to the park district for $1.

However, annual operation costs, a long-term renovation debt and special projects for the center are shared among three entities. Park commissioners have expressed concerns about being able to carry all the costs without the city's help.

Higlin and park board commissioners Wanda Knoll and Bruce Brucker will meet with other members of the Community Center Advisory Group later this month.

The Community Center Advisory Group represents the city of Mandan, the Mandan School District, the Mandan Park District and citizens at large. Its members have agreed to meet more frequently through June to allow each entity to budget for needed changes in 2010.

Park commissioners asked Monday if the Mandan School District had an interest in owning the center.

Higlin told the board if the district had an interest in using it for vo-tech opportunities, the center would need some renovation. He said that may take some time.

"That will be some of the discussion to take place - what their needs will be. Do they have a need for this facility? If they do, what is their timeline? If they do, that would give us a timeline for finding additional sites," Higlin said.

Higlin told the park board that sometime in the future, the city of Mandan would prefer a sunset clause for its financial involvement with the community center.

In a separate matter, the Park Board agreed to begin televising its meetings in July on a trial basis.

Mandan City Administrator Jim Neubauer appeared before the park board to formally make the offer to air the park board meetings from City Hall.

The meetings will be viewed on Government Access Cable Channel 2 through Dakota Media Access, the former Community Access Television.

Neubauer said the first year of televising park board meetings would be free. After that, costs associated with televising could be negotiated between the city and park district.

Neubauer said the Mandan School District has agreed to start televising its meetings from City Hall in April.

(Reach reporter LeAnn Eckroth at 250-8264 or leann.eckroth@;bismarcktribune.com.)