The Litchfield City Council discussed options for the wellness center during a work session after its regular council meeting June 3.
Nicole Schimdt, project communication specialist for Bolton & Menk, presented the council with 14 ideas for features of a wellness center. Ten of the features consisted of new facilities, such as a zero-entry pool, lazy river, sustainable indoor/outdoor pool, activity room, day care center, field house, community room, reservable room, activity room and a stand-alone field house. The council was given price points and several similar options to narrow down for an ideal facility.
Schimdt also presented facility improvements for existing structures around town, such as the civic arena, senior center and park improvements.
There’s a lot of similarities with these projects, Cziok told the council.
“When we talk about ideas in the coming months, we will talk about the differences between an activity room and a community room,” Cziok said.
He said what is important for the council to consider is that all of the options presented are features that have been suggested from the community.
Council Member Eric Mathwig said if the city works with the school, the facility could include most of the options presented.
“We could have the total package,” he said. “I’m on the side of doing all or nothing. We could have a really nice facility.”
Other topics at the meeting included a discussion about raising the rates at the cemetery 30-50 percent. Cziok said by implementing these price increases, the council could work on improving the cemetery and fixing some of the sunken graves.
The 30 percent increase would give the city approximately $15,460.50 in additional revenue, and the 50 percent increase would provide nearly $25,677.50 in additional revenue. Cziok said the 30 percent increase would only balance the budget of the cemetery.
“The 50 percent increase would allow the city to raise the bar on the cemetery and add improvements,” Cziok said.
The city will look at other neighboring cemeteries to compare their rates before the council votes on the rate increases. Cziok said if the city wanted to increase the rates, they should do it as soon as possible rather than waiting for the first of the year.
