Convention Center Study Committee Move Forward With Architects of Lavin Architects

On Tuesday the Convention Center Study Committee met with the Architects of Lavin Architects to discuss needs of a convention center. Dee Vaughn, President of the Dumas/Moore County Chamber said, “You have to start somewhere.” “Deciding what the community needs is part of the process. This is just the first phase.”CEO of Dumas/Moore County, Sam Cartwright said, “The convention center is a quality of life issue.”

Sam Cartwright also said, "The convention center debt service can be paid for with the hotel/motel tax as long as a municipality owns it. This information comes from the Hotel/Motel Association attorneys of Austin, TX". Sam Cartwright stated that they had no idea how long this process will take but today will be key to helping get this process started. Sam also said the committee would be looking at a convention center with an event center, auditorium and an indoor arena that could accommodate Rodeos and Agriculture shows.
Tom Lavin of Lavin Architect was introduced to the committee at this time. Tom Lavin also introduced his associates with him. John Jenkins and Jon Gamel who helped make the presentation to the Convention Center committee. Tom Lavin and Sam Cartwright visited back in January. The firm asked the committee to gather round the table and with the use of cutouts of the stage, arena, restrooms, breakout rooms, event center and banquet room to arrange the center as they would like to see it.

Pictured L-R Sam Cartwright, David Tapp, Dee Vaughan and the Architects
Jon Gamel, John Jenkins and Tom Lavin

Ineze Jenkins said her company High Plains Journal holds agriculture conferences around the country. Her company had asked her to find a place in Dumas to hold a Sorghum conference because it is centrally located in the Panhandle area. She could not find a place in Dumas that could hold two to three hundred people and allow them to break off into small group discussions. Ineze did find a location in another town but stated the participants were on top of each because the space was so small. A discussion on what kind of kitchen if any would be needed for the center. It was decided it would be nice to have one if you had a wedding or conference then a caterer would be able to prepare meals. A concession stand would also be needed for the indoor arena.

City Commissioner Dr. David Bonner and Chairman of the Chamber Board Dee Vaughan

City Commissioner Dr. David Bonner who attended this meeting had a question about the auditorium. He wanted to know if there would be a balcony and if the cost would be cheaper because of the balcony. The size for the auditorium was discussed and how it could be used. Every member had an event in mind that the auditorium could be used. The size of the auditorium came into question as the discussion turned to how many people it would hold. The target was 1,500 people as a capacity for the auditorium. A performing stage was also on the committee’s wish list. For this reason the auditorium would need to be placed on an outside wall so the performing groups could back their trucks up to unload equipment. The Indoor Arena would need to have a concrete floor so that dirt could be put down for rodeos and then the dirt would be took up if car shows, basketball games or other such sport events took place in the indoor arena.

Ineze and Paul Jenkins

Paul and Ineze Jenkins mention what the needs for the rodeo show participants would be such as stalls for livestock, RV hook-ups and an event area nearby for vendors. The discussion turned to outdoor space. Whether there would be an area for an outdoor wedding or just a nice garden area for people to be able to enjoy during breaks from their conferences. The discussion led to where would the Convention Center could be built. Two to three locations were mention but the land behind the motels on the southeast end of town would have space to grow. Sam Cartwright, CEO of the Dumas/Moore County Chamber commented on how this project would be paid. “The hotel/motel tax or occupancy tax can pay the debt service on a project like this as long as a municipality owns it. Thing to remember is that this is not property tax paying for this. Hotel/motel tax is paid by travelers when they rent a room for the night.”

Tom Lavin of Lavin Architects said, “If the committee thinks of something we didn’t discuss today just email or call us and we will start putting together and we’ll just dream. The first dream will be wrong but it will generate some more conversations”.