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CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) The first of two readings of an ordinance to extend the city sales tax to fund the future Wellness, Health and Physical Education Center was unanimously approved by the city commission December 9 during a special meeting.

Valley City Barnes County Director of Economic Development Jennifer Feist says no more than 17% of the one-half cent city sales tax will be used for construction funding approved by Valley City voters on November 4.

Feist says one addition will be added to the ordinance that includes a clause referring to interest of the $3 million dollars that will to be used to fund the facility approved by voter last month. She also says financing is in place to cover a possible $500,000 construction funding gap for the project if it’s needed. Earlier this year the Valley City Barnes County Economic Development Corporation approved of using existing or future sales tax funding revenue for development to cover a potential gap of $500,000 if needed.

A final reading of the ordinance will be on the agenda during a regular city commission meeting on Tuesday, December 16. A fundraising drive will also start on Tuesday, December 16 to raise another $4 million dollars to close the gap of the nearly $12 million already raised for the $16 million dollar project.

The new Wellness, Health and Physical Education Center will be under the control of the Valley City Parks & Recreation Department. Once funding for construction is raised a ground breaking ceremony will be held in sometime in 2015. The facility will be located east of the W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse along 8th Avenue Southwest in Valley City.