The Crestview City Council on Sept. 22 authorized the city attorney to negotiate a purchase contract with Central Baptist Church for a facility known locally as "The Rock," with a negotiation ceiling of $1,500,000.

City staff presented a plan to address immediate and long-range recreation needs after a prior consultant's proposal was judged too costly. Staff said Twin Hills gym cannot be air-conditioned without costs that exceed the building's value and that a newly constructed indoor facility would be cost-prohibitive. The Rock, an existing indoor facility within city limits owned by Central Baptist Church, would provide an air-conditioned gym available for the upcoming basketball season if repairs could be completed in time.

City staff said the property includes a pool currently operated by a nonprofit; staff proposed maintaining the existing nonprofit contract rather than transferring pool operations to the city. "At this time the city is not staffed nor trained to take that pool over and we would, at the time of purchase, request to continue the contract with them," staff said.

Councilmembers praised the concept as a cost-efficient near-term solution and asked staff and the city attorney to negotiate terms. Councilman Frost asked that any purchase honor the nonprofit's pool agreement; staff agreed.

The motion to authorize negotiation with a $1.5 million ceiling passed unanimously, 5-0. Staff said the next steps include engineering reviews, negotiations, and design work to confirm stormwater, setbacks and repair timing; staff will return with cost and feasibility reports.