By Scott Harvey
Commerce – A Commerce task force created to gauge the public's interest on a multipurpose facility is put on hold.
As part of Tuesday's agenda, the 12-team task force plans to recommend to council disbandment, following the recent news that Covidien will close late next year.
"The committee decided that due to some recent occurrences that could negatively affect some revenues that the city would receive; they thought it was not the right time to go forward with a project of this magnitude so they're recommending to the city council that the task force be disbanded," said Interim City Manager Marc Clayton.
The proposed facility would have included a recreation center, public library and swimming pool.
Clayton continued, "Ultimately they would be looking at selling some bonds which would be tax supported, they just didn't think the time was to move forward right now. That's not saying the project is dead, it's just they're not going to go forward with it right now."
The city had hoped the creation of the facility would bring additional tax revenue and citizens to Commerce.
In late May, Covidien, a global healthcare products manufacturer, announced they would close their Commerce plant to maximize efficiency.