The Walnut City Council learned during a special meeting Thursday evening, that the Welcome Center may close at the end of June. City Clerk Shannon Wood told KJAN News the building is used in-part as a public restroom for the downtown area. She said the Optimists, which own the building, are granted money from the City for their budget, but since they own the building, there’s not much the City can do about it being closed. It’s not clear what would be done with the building once it closes.

The Walnut City Council also discussed the Community Center as it pertains to Family, Incorporated. Wood said Family, Inc. is looking into leasing one of the rooms of the former school building-turned Community Center. The Council came back with some estimated of what needs to be done to make the room they’re interested in, habitable for Family, Inc. Councilman Justen Tooley came up with a cost of $7,500, and a price of $6 per square foot per year as a lease.

Councilperson Linda Booth – who is Co-Chair of the RAGBRAI Committee — reported to the full Council that the Committee has eight- or nine-vendors in-place for the pass through event, which is close to the number they were hoping to attract. In other business, the Walnut City Council decided to go with the Bank of Oklahoma for their General Obligation Bond. She said Bankers Trust was getting rid of that part of business plan, leaving the Council with the option of going through UMB Bank or the Bank of Oklahoma. The Bank of Oklahoma was the cheaper option of the two.

Shannon Wood said also, the Council talked about the popular Walnut Splash Pad during their meeting. She said the City is having iron issues with the new well, which is causing them to back flush more through their system. Therefore, the hours are being reduced for the Splash Pad. Instead of from 10-a.m. To 8-p.m., the hours will be Noon-to 8-p.m., beginning June 5^th.