2017-2018 Focus on Oak Grove City Guide
Page 9
City
Facilities plan
The future is lined out in Oak Grove, as last year voters
approved a sales tax increase to fund city facility projects.
The 1/2¢ sales tax increase in Oak Grove allowed the
issuance of bonds to build a two-pool aquatic center which
will be built in Bent Oak Park, and to combine City Hall
and the police station in what is currently the Civic Cen-
ter. The old police station building will be used for emer-
gency management.
The Bent Oak property, around 200 acres, has been pur-
chased by the city for $1 million. The construction of the
aquatic center is expected to cost $3-3.5 million. Renova-
tion of the Civic Center is expected to cost $1.5-2 million.
The Bent Oak property will allow for the city to add to
its park systems as it grows, Jeremy Martin, mayor, said.
In the past 20 years, population in Oak Grove has doubled.
Martin suggested it may do so again.
The plan resulted from more than 10 years of observa-
tions on city facilities, beginning with a City Hall renova-
tion study in 2005. A 2007 space needs study and 2013
facilities analysis also were listed as precursors to the
2015 community survey and the formation of the steering
committee and facility plan.
The facilities studies have concluded that City Hall,
originally built as a doctor’s office, is inadequate for the
needs of city staff. The police station, originally intended
for ambulances, also has been identified as needing im-
provement, as has the city pool, which loses $70-80,000 a
year due to problems including a water leak.