Citizens of Bourbon have been asked to attend and participate in a community meeting in the Old Bourbon Gym on Thursday, June 26th at 7 p.m. The meeting has been called by Triton School Superintendent Donna Burroughs and the school board to hear comments regarding fixing up and restoring the old gym or tearing it down and building a new one.
The gym was built in 1928 when the State of Indiana required physical training to be a course requirement. Currently the facility is used by the school system for daily PE classes, sports team practices, and special school events such as the Business Push-Cart program which is an economic study and some community events. Burroughs said, “We need it. We just can’t tear it down and forget about it.”
In 2013 a committee was formed to look at the situation of the Old Bourbon Gym. Committee members include Superintendent Donna Burroughs, School Board VP Kevin Boyer, Athletic Director Mason McIntire, teacher Jack Carpenter, Carolyn and PH Hanley and Larry Lemler.
The Triton School has completed a couple of options for citizens to consider:
1. Repairs and renovations of the old gym have been estimated to be approximately $700,000 following a feasibility study by OMS Architects from Indy.
2. Burroughs said tearing down the old gym and building a new one would cost between one and a half up to two million.
3. The other unique option would be to form a non-profit community group to take over the Old Bourbon Gym. They would have an agreement with the school system to use the facility at no cost but it would allow the 501C3 to lease out the space for events. That would help to raise money for the building. The school is in the process of putting the structure on the National Register of Historic Places and with that distinction they may quality for grants to help fund some of the necessary repairs and improvements.
Burroughs noted that the annual utility costs for the Old Bourbon gym is $13,000.
The Community meeting will be this Thursday, June 26th at 7 p.m. in the Old bourbon Gym. Citizens of Bourbon are encouraged to attend the meeting and comment on the options. Burroughs said community input is very necessary since the school system doesn’t have any funds available for repairs or replacement so it’s the community who will have to fund the project.
