Boulder City Council votes to give wrestling club a new home

By Jean Reid Norman

Wednesday, July 15, 2009 | 5:17 p.m.

The BC Youth Wrestling Organization has a new home. It just needs a little work.

The City Council voted 4-0 July 14 to allow the young wrestlers to use a cottage in ABC Park east of the Boulder City Library, but the organization has to bring the building up to city code first.

City inspectors cited the building, noting that the windows and sliding glass doors need to be repaired or replaced, as do roof tiles and gable and the ceiling.

In addition, the heating and cooling system, electrical system, sewer and plumbing need to be inspected and fixed as needed, drainage around the building needs to be evaluated to prevent flooding and the inside of the building needs extensive cleanup and repair.

“It isn’t that bad,” head coach Matt Brown said. “Luckily, we have a lot of people, parents in the group who are licensed contractors, who will donate their time for it.”

A big part of the job will be cleaning up the interior, which was vandalized and splattered with paint, he said.

The wrestling group, which ended last season with 43 children from kindergarten through fifth grade, also will be required to pay for utilities, trash pickup and pest control.

Brown said he hopes to have the work done by the time the fall season begins in November, but if it isn’t, the group will probably begin practice at Boulder City High School, which has been generous with the use of its facilities.

He expected to be in the new location sometime during the next season.

A Henderson police officer, Brown also plans to affiliate the group with the Henderson Police Athletic League. That will provide extra insurance and allow the group eventually to expand the program to other sports, such as boxing or martial arts, he said.

The PAL program also provides new programs with a grant, which will be used to buy mats and other equipment, Brown said.