By John Kiesewetter
Enquirer staff writer

WEST CHESTER TWP. - Township trustees are ready to jump into the pool, with the first reading tonight of a resolution approving a $33 million community and recreation center.

But trustees won't officially vote until their next meeting, on July 13, to go ahead with designing the 151,380-square-foot building. It is expected to have indoor leisure and competitive pools, basketball and racquetball courts, a field turf multipurpose room, fitness and aerobics areas, meeting rooms and a 20,135-square-foot outdoor pool.

The timing of the vote - after six months of public meetings about the size and amenities - was set so opponents can circulate petitions in time to place a referendum on the Nov. 2 ballot, said Trustees Jose Alvarez and George Lang.

"They (opponents) can't do anything until we approve a resolution," Alvarez said.

If trustees act July 13, FitWorks health club co-owners John Janszen and Randy Stanifer and resident Dan Wagner said they will begin collecting signatures the next day. They must gather 1,577 signatures of registered voters by Aug. 12, according to the Butler County Board of Elections.

"To me, it's not a bad idea to go on the ballot," said Lang, who had campaigned for office last year by saying residents should vote on the center.

Trustees were told this month that if they put the issue on the November ballot themselves, it could be challenged by a referendum, which could delay construction by 18 months.

"It would be foolish for us to put it on the ballot, because we could waste a year and a half," Lang said.

The proposed resolution does not resolve several key questions about the center planned for 18 acres at Union Centre Boulevard and West Chester Road, opposite Lakota West High School:

• It does not specify either the eight-lane indoor competitive pool recommended by designers, or the 10-lane indoor pool sought by area swim parents and clubs. Lang said pool size will be resolved before architectural drawings are completed this fall.

• It does not say whether the township or a contractor would operate the facility. The resolution does give David Gully, township administrator, authority to seek requests for management and operation services, and to negotiate a contract with an outside operator.

According to the proposed resolution, trustees are convinced the center "will be financially self-sufficient, and not burden the (township's) general operating (fund)." Construction would be paid for by tax-increment financing revenues from Union Centre development, not the general fund.

The resolution also formalizes something trustees have talked about in recent months - endorsing establishment of a West Chester Community Center Fund at the West Chester-Liberty Community Foundation. The fund and foundation would cover operating losses, and help residents who could not afford annual membership fees ranging from $625 to $1,100, trustees said.

Steve Jones, project manager for Messer Construction, had wanted a trustees' decision by May so work could begin in the fall. A July vote means construction will be delayed until spring, he said.

"If this goes on the ballot, nothing will happen until then," Gully said.

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E-mail jkiesewetter@enquirer.com