Opponents of a proposed Cortez recreation center compared the project to date rape, seduction, and sexual harassment at a public hearing on Monday.

Although the crowd gathered at the Cortez City Council chambers seemed largely in favor of the $8.1 million center, its four detractors argued passionately against raising the city sales tax to fund an $8.9 million bond — an issue which will ultimately be decided by Cortez voters if the council approves putting it on the November ballot.

"When I see this I think about date rape," said Ken Banks, the owner of Shooters World in Cortez.

"We’re going to lure shoppers in here to shop at City Market, Safeway, Wal-Mart, down there and all over town, and we’re going to nail them with an additional tax." Banks said.

"I know it’s a little bit more than a half of a percent, but it doesn’t matter. It’s unfair for those people to come to our community to shop and to be, I wrote down ‘seduced,’ with this tax.

"Most of you people (the council) are going to be dead in 20 years," he added, to laughter, "and you will sunset before this tax does."

If the 20-year bond passes, shoppers would see a 0.055 percent increase in the Cortez sales tax. The bond includes funding for an expected $115,000-per-year subsidy for the center.

The recreation facility would be located at Parque de Vida and would have an indoor jogging track, family pool, water slide, water channel for resistance walking, six-lane lap pool and diving board, basketball and volleyball courts, multi-purpose rooms, an exercise area for aerobic machines, day care, and office space.

A city survey of registered voters in June garnered 243 responses: 168 in favor, 54 against, and 21 who wanted more information. Chris Burkett, the city parks and recreation director, did not know how many surveys were sent out in total.

In 1994 a similar proposal was defeated by Cortez voters by a 2-1 margin, a fact not lost on resident Bud Garner, who spoke at the meeting Monday.

"If you ask a girl for a date and she says no, the next time you ask you are liable in court for harassment," said Garner. "If this is such a good idea, then let those that want it pay for it."

After the 1994 defeat, the city council decided not to bring the issue up again unless a number of citizens asked for its revival. Last fall, nearly 100 people gathered at a council meeting to voice support for the project. From those citizens, a committee was formed called, "Friends of the Center," which includes 20 to 24 county and city residents involved with its conception, design, and funding.

Bob Diederich, chairman of the group, spoke in favor of the issue on Monday. He said if the bond passes, the group plans to start a foundation that could both help with construction costs and pay for passes for lower-income residents.

"The purpose of the committee is to raise funds for advertising and then to go out and visit with the various groups in the area and talk to them about what we’re trying to do and try to solicit as many yeas as we can," explained Diederich.

"What we’re doing is building something for the city," explained supporter Bill Lemons.

O.K. Doty agreed, and said, "I don’t like taxes, but if we didn’t have taxes we’d be driving down dirt roads and going to one-room schoolhouses."

The recreation center would be the only one of its kind within 48 miles, and Cortez resident Sam Green said it would draw teams from around the area for swim meets as well as providing needed facilities the city lacks.

But just how many people would benefit from the project is still a matter of debate, according to George Kranik and Whitey Whitener.

"The one thing I think is very apparent is that we all are taxed, but only a small percentage of the community actually utilizes those facilities," said Kranik, who is worried the tax would unfairly burden the poor.

"Everybody is paying for the benefit of a few people and I don’t think that’s right," said Whitener.

Council member Jim Herrick said taxing the poor was a concern for him as well, but he said, "I believe this to be the fairest tax conceivable on the poor."

Another public hearing on the recreation center is set for June 25 at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall.

In other business, the council also considered a draft ordinance prohibiting dogs on the golf course. The golf advisory committee recommended the ordinance after complaints of dogs at large surfaced.

"It really is not a good idea to have dogs out there while people are playing golf," said City Manager Hal Shepherd.