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Youth center group seeks council’s help
CAMPBELL
A committee that’s trying to establish a new community and youth center in the city has asked the council to take the lead in getting funding for it.
The committee, made up of community, government and religious leaders, approached the council at its caucus meeting Wednesday, saying the city would have an easier time getting grants than it would.
“We talked to [state] Sen. [Joe[ Schiavoni,” said Dr. Robert Walls, principal at Campbell Elementary School, who’s leading the committee.
“The biggest thing I got from him is that it’s better to be driven by a political entity,” Walls continued. “You have access to much more money.”
The committee began meeting in January and already has toured a building it would like as a temporary home for the center — the old Faith Temple Baptist Church building on Roosevelt Boulevard near city hall.
Walls gave the council the results of a survey that indicates people in Campbell, especially families with elementary school-age children, support opening a center.
“Young families are interested in a youth center,” Walls said. “What keeps a city alive? Young families.”
Walls said that if council pursues grants, Sen. Schiavoni, of Canfield, D-33rd, would “personally get the paperwork and walk it through” in Columbus.
He said he would like the council to find out, within 30 days, what money is available and to come up with a plan to pursue the project.
He said he would like council to find money for the center’s temporary home at the church building, which is for sale for $75,000, and also for a new building in the next several years.
Council President William Vansuch said council would help with a resolution to direct the mayor and finance director to look for grants and report back within 30 days.
The committee and council will meet again about the resolution at 6:30 p.m. March 24 in the caucus room at the city building.