Priceville is evaluating the possibility of including a wellness center in the plans for their new recreation center, according to Mayor Melvin Duran.

Duran updated the Parks and Recreation Board on the town’s latest ideas and research on the project. He said they were looking into having a wellness center with access to fitness equipment based on memberships.

“We will hopefully soon meet with a group that is interested in running a fitness center in the new recreation building,” Duran said. “We have looked at Cullman and Nashville’s civic center’s for ideas and recommendations. Everyone has recommended that we have at least four gyms, even if it means we have to leave something else out. Our current plan has two gyms, but we think it might be worth it to add the gyms for travel basketball and volleyball teams to use. The centers we visited had multiple pools, but we don’t think we want to try that route since we already have Point Mallard and the Hartselle Aquatic Center nearby.”

Duran said his worries are not concerned with the construction costs.

“I think we will be able to finance the construction, but the operating costs are what I’m scared of,” Duran said. “Not having a pool will cut down on those costs, but there’s still so much that goes into a center like this. The utilities and employee salaries will be very expensive. Memberships to a fitness center would really help us cover those costs. We haven’t really discussed numbers with any of our potential partners, but we will put a lot of thought into it.”

The council hopes to have the civic center project started in 2016, but they have other projects they would like to complete first.

“Our top priority now is getting the tennis and basketball courts back in operation before we get started on the civic center,” Duran said. “We have seen some setbacks there, but those projects need to finish up first. We are looking at about $107,000 to resurface and reconstruct those.”

Councilman and Parks and Recreation Board member Tommy Perry updated the board on the intentions for the money raised by the Miss Albany’s Piggy Tail Princess 7k.

“Mrs. Holmes, Albany’s mother, said they would really like to see a special-needs accessible merry-go-round added to the park,” Perry said. “Initial estimates for it are about $4,500 plus the padding that is $15 per square foot for the 19-by-19-foot section. I think that’s feasible to add to the playground, so we will look into plans for that.”

The board also discussed plans for the May Music at the Memorial, and decided to plan another hamburger and hotdog cookout for the senior center this summer. The board is also looking to fill two vacant positions. The next parks and recreation meeting scheduled for May 25 will be canceled because of Memorial Day.