Decades in the making: Riverside voters green-light $8 million wellness center project

RIVERSIDE — Voters in Riverside overwhelmingly approved an $8 million bond to help fund a long-planned community wellness center, a project city leaders describe as a cornerstone for the town’s future growth.

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According to unofficial results from Washington County election officials, the bond referendum passed with 266 votes in favor and 90 opposed. That is roughly a 74% approval which greatly surpasses the 60% needed for passage.

Plans for the 40,000-square-foot Riverside Wellness Center state it will be built on Galileo Drive, east of Riverside Elementary School. The center is anticipated to include three basketball courts, concessions space, locker rooms, storage and a community room on the first floor, with a weight room, a fitness studio and a walking track upstairs. An outdoor patio will adjoin the main entrance.

Mayor Allen Schneider, who ran unopposed and secured his sixth two-year term with 322 votes, says he anticipates this addition offering value to every resident of Riverside thanks to a wide-variety of choices for activities and an opportunity for large community gatherings.

The city estimates the total cost at about $11.5 million, though engineering, design and financing fees could raise it to roughly $13 million. A financial overview published by the city in October places construction at $10.5 million, with an additional $1 million each for architectural services and for furniture and equipment.

To pay for the project, Riverside will combine $1.5 million already set aside from local revenues and donations with the new general-obligation bond. The city has also applied for grants, including a $4 million proposal under review by the Washington County Riverboat Foundation.

City Administrator Cole Smith said the council’s goal is to repay the bond over 15 years using special revenues such as local-option sales tax, hotel-motel tax and casino gaming revenue rather than property-tax increases. This repayment plan may have played an important role in the overwhelming support the city saw in passing this bond.

On the ballots, however, the bond language did authorize a levy of up to $2.886 per $1,000 of taxable property.

Riverside currently carries no municipal debt and has maintained one of the lowest consolidated property-tax rates in Washington County for most of the past five years, according to city records. Officials say that record of fiscal restraint helped build trust with voters.

Construction is expected to begin in 2026 following final design approval from OPN Architects and Axiom Consultants of Iowa City. City leaders hope the facility will serve as a regional hub for recreation and community events while reinforcing Riverside’s appeal to young families.

In addition to the uncontested mayoral race and bond issue, Riverside had four candidates running for two City Council seats. Chris Grinstead secured a seat with just shy of 30% of votes alongside Tom Sexton who nabbed nearly the same percentage in unofficial results. Levi Schnoebelen came in just behind the winning candidates with nearly 26% of the vote.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com