The Custer 2020 organization made a proper decision earlier this month to not ask the West Custer County Hospital District to join forces as 2020 goes after funds to acquire the Club America community rec center property.

 

The 2020 group decided to go it alone after some community leaders and taxpayers raised concerns about the hospital district taking on too much risk in the proposed joint venture.

 

To be sure, there were merits in the proposal: Custer 2020 needed a local government sponsor in order to seek a grant from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs. And the various trappings at Club America, with its pool, health center and similar recreational offerings, seemed a comfortable fit with the hospital district’s mission.

 

But the hospital district maintains strong support and loyalty from the taxpayers and its patient base, and Custer 2020 rightfully didn’t want to disrupt that symbiosis.

 

So what next for Custer 2020? It needs to raise something shy of a million bucks to acquire the Club America facility, which was built four years ago by a family that was unable to make a success of the operation. And it needs to insure that operational costs – roughly $10,000 per month – are met.

 

A big task to be sure. But Custer 2020 officials say some deep-pocketed individuals are willing to chip in. The organization is going after some foundation funding, and it has hopes of parlaying a valuable piece of property into cash.

 

A deadline is approaching, however. Custer 2020 has a lease on the facility through early 2010, and it hopes to have some arrangement in place by then.

 

If managed properly, the Club America facility would certainly be an important community asset. And if its acquisition and operation can be accomplished in the current economic environment, then its future success would seem sound.  We hope the group is able to succeed in its vision.