BC track running short on financing

Teresa Hinds

Friday, July 18, 1997 | 9:34 a.m.

Plans to install a state-of-the-art running track at Boulder City High School have stalled because of financing problems.

Get on Track, a group of Boulder City residents working to raise money to install a Mondo running track system at the high school, were counting on the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority to approve its proposal for funding.

The group is seeking $189,000, the difference between the bid the Clark County School District has approved for a new track -- $258,000 -- and what it would cost to put in the Mondo rolled rubber surface.

But the proposal never made it to the convention authority's agenda last week.

Douglas Gerwitz, a spokesman for Get on Track, said the group was encouraged to approach the LVCVA by Iris Bletsch, an outgoing member of the convention authority.

Based on Bletsch's enthusiasm for the project and assurances that the item would be on the LVCVA agenda, Get on Track geared its proposal for funding on the potential for national and international tourism dollars the Mondo track would bring to Southern Nevada.

But instead of going to last week's meeting to speak on their behalf, members of Get on Track discovered the proposal was not on the agenda. After telephoning the LVCVA to find out why, they were faxed a letter that was alleged to have been mailed to Boulder City High School stating the LVCVA "would not be able to participate because they do not do anything in conjunction with the school district," Gerwitz said.

"Our impression is that they didn't read the proposal and understand what we were asking for," he added.

Efforts to reach Bletsch and members of the LVCVA were unsuccessful.

Despite the setback, Gerwitz said the group is still seeking corporate financial help.

"The proposal isn't dead in the water yet," he said, adding the group is readying to meet with executives from the Gold Strike Casino in Henderson. "If that doesn't pan out, we'll go to Station Casinos."

The Clark County School District initially set July 15 as a deadline for Get on Track to come up with the additional $189,000 because of construction timelines that must be met.

But Gerwitz said the school district is being "very cooperative" with the group in extending the deadline.

Mondo tracks have been installed for the last six Summer Olympic and are considered state-of-the-art. Although the system being considered for Boulder City High School is not Olympic grade, it's superior to the polyurethane surface set to be installed at the high school and four others in the Clark County School District.

"It's one of those 'If you build it, they will come' things," Gerwitz said.