Wilma Erven, the Director of Culture and Recreation for the City of Delta, agreed to an interview about community centers. Since Delta is only somewhat smaller than Fruita, and the fact that Erven has been the director of Delta’s facility since its inception, the Fruita Times thought her answers would be of interest to our community.

Q. What would be the three biggest benefits to having a community center like Huddles in Fruita and what would be the three disadvantages?
A. “Having a center gives everyone an opportunity to attend for socializing, for fun times and for healthy exercise and activities. A community center isn’t all about workouts. There are many other activities there. A community center is life, not machines. I can’t really think of any disadvantages.”
Q. After speaking at the recent Fruita Chamber Forum did you think the public was well informed on the issue here in Fruita?
A. “After hearing some of the remarks in the forum, your public appears not to have the facts straight. For one instance, someone said building a center would take away from things Fruita needs, police, fireman and such. These items are covered by the city general fund. A community center is funded by enterprise funds, its own separate fund, not out of general funds. Another misinformation bit is that property taxes will go up. I doubt that having a center will push up house values that much. The energy boom is doing that.
Come on folks, if you build a community center, you’re building quality of life. I can’t believe Fruita does not want a better quality of life for its population.”
Q. Do you think that a sales tax is the best way to finance this project?
A. “Yes, because this way tourists, travelers, anyone who shops helps pay for the center. This helps the center keep the price affordable for those who cannot afford the private gyms or such.”
Q. Will the Fruita Community Center help or hinder Fruita business in general and private health clubs in particular?
A. “It will help. For an example, when Delta people come to town to use the center, they do their shopping as well. Sometimes groups meet to exercise together, then go to lunch together. Actually, travelers and tourists stop, use the facility, stay overnight, then go on. As for private health clubs, I don’t think they are affected because they are a total different operation. The same clients are not attracted to both facilities.”
Q. You stated that the public vote support the Bill Huddles Recreation Center in Delta by sales tax was first passed by a thin margin and then, the renewal of that tax to sustain the center was voter approved by a big margin of 71 percent. What accounts for that?
A. “The center didn’t pass by a thin margin, it was better than that. There were the nay-sayers, yes, but when the community realized the benefits they received, they overwhelmingly passed the renewal of the tax to sustain it by 71 percent because they love the increase in their quality of life. Delta had no one saying why should I pay for others to use it.”
Q. Is Delta a conservative non-tax voting base or more liberal with their money?
A.”Delta is pretty non-tax. When they saw the results of having a community center for recreation, they were very happy that it was voted in. This shows by the 71 percent approval of keeping the sales tax portion for maintenance. “
Q. How does your center work with the Delta Seniors?
A. “The seniors mainly eat at their center, then they head over to the community center for everything else.”
Q. What advice do you give Fruita City Officials on building a community recreation center?
A.“Number one is getting the correct information out. This is critical. You have to get the information out continuously. Your community needs to realize sales tax has nothing to do with the general fund. That money goes only to the community center.”
Q. What would you say to citizens who are not in favor of the one cent sales tax increase but who are in favor of a community center? And to those who are just not sure?
A. “Let travelers and tourists help pay for the community center. Not everyone in Fruita buys lots in Fruita, but they buy gas perhaps. A penny is not much out of a dollar. To those who are not sure, if you want quality of life you have to pay for it.”