FAIRMONT– At its meeting on Monday, the Fairmont City Council considered a list of potential projects that could be funded for with the Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) funds that have been accumulating since the 2016 ballot measure passed.

While the funds were originally earmarked for a community center, with a previous council agreeing to put $14 million toward a YMCA-operated community center, the Fairmont Area Community Center Foundation (FACC) announced in November of 2025 that it would end work on pursuit of the project, which has left the remaining $12 million in the city’s hands without a designated purpose.

In January of this year, the city began looking for input on what projects the citizens would like to see the money used for.

However, use of the funds have been set by legislation, which is fairly specific, though the language is broad as it’s for recreational amenities, trails and a community center.

Public Works Director, Matthew York, said that the city had asked for citizens for their input via notice on the city’s website and social media page and that information was also pulled from a social media post put out by Council Member Britney Kawecki. Information from a survey that the Citizens for a Strong Fairmont released was also included. All of those responses were then compiled and York explained how he categorized them to present them to the council.

“They organically broke into four major groups,” York said. “Small projects, mid-size projects and larger projects. There were also unknowns, things that were extremely vague.”

Small projects up to $2 million included projects like a Heritage Acres lighting project, water splash pad, boat dock upgrades, additional restrooms at parks and bridges at the Disc Golf Course.

York explained that any smaller projects that were suggested but were already included in the 2026 CIP plan were not included on this list.

Mid-size projects between $2 million and $5 million really only included the suggestion of using money to help repair the Fairmont Opera House.

“We all kind of understand that there are some hurdles that will have to be jumped through for us to make that a viable project, but it was asked so we put it on the list,” York said.

Large projects over $10 million included a campground “Jellystone” style, monolithic dome facility and variations of a field house, ice arena with a field house, ice arena with an indoor pool, ice arena with gymnastics center, etc.

Finally, ideas that fell into the unknown category included suggestions like replacement of the broken clock on Downtown Plaza, remodeling of SMEC building, business incentives and replacement of city fire hall.

York then went on to say that some ideas such as giving the money back, as well as to stop collecting the money were also suggested which he said could be discussed by the council.

“The big question that myself and staff would like to be discussed tonight is, do we see spending our LOST funds on one large project…. Or do we want to spend LOST projects on a number of small or medium-sized projects? I think that will ultimately help whatever the next discussion will be,” York said.

After York presented the breakdown of ideas, the council began to discuss next steps. Both Councilors Britney Kawecki and Wayne Hasek were absent for Monday’s meeting.

“The one thing I’ve heard most of all after the community center project ended, was that we need to put that money toward the Opera House,” said Council Member Jay Maynard, adding that he understands it’s still unknown it the city can do that. “I would like a definitive answer on that one way or another.”

Council Member James Kotewa agreed that he wants an answer on whether or not the money could be used on the Opera House. He also brought up a different potential idea.

“I see that the mayor and Mr. (Paul) Hoye has received an email that the school wants to do a collaborative effort which… would probably lean more toward a larger project,” Kotewa said.

He added that the hockey association has been wanting a new ice arena and agreed that the council needs to decide if it wants to fund smaller projects or one large project.

“This is something we need to have a work session on to narrow things down after these questions are answered,” Kotewa said.

Council Member Randy Lubenow rattled off some of his own questions.

“Is the Mayo land still available?” Lubenow asked. “The donations that were given by the Rosen family, the Krahmer family, the banks in town, other people, are those donations still available?”

He also asked whether the hockey association and Project 1590, which were both there at the beginning, were still interested in being involved in a project.

“The school, after nine-and-a-half years, they’re finally coming to the table. That is something that we need to look at,” Lubenow said.

Maynard said he was surprised to hear that the school district was interested in doing something. Mayor Lee Baarts said from what he understands the district is interested in the potential of building something like a field house connected to the gymnasium at the high school.

“One positive to me is they would take care of it. We wouldn’t have maintenance on it,” Baarts said.

He asked whether the council wanted to have a work session in April and Kotewa said he thought meeting in May would be better as it would give them time to hear back from other stakeholders on whether or not there was still interest in being involved or whether their pledged funds would still be available.

Lubenow added that if a project would be on school grounds he’d question how much control the city would have.

“With our history of getting agreements when we have sports complexes, that would be something that would really need to be looked at,” Lubenow said.

York pointed out there were two other major questions that would need to be answered before the council had a further meeting on the matter, which were whether the land originally intended for the community center, referred to as the “Mayo land” would still be available and whether the funds could be used for Opera House repairs.

York also said it would be worth having a further conversation with the school district about what the goal of the collaborative project would be.

Lubenow made a motion to direct staff to ask Taft, the city’s bond attorney, if the LOST funds could be available for the Opera House, clarify what if anything could be put on the Fairmont Area School District property and to reach out to the FACC group with regards to the donations pledged and property ownership. The motion passed.

The council will have a work session to discuss the potential projects further in the near future.