Cost will be a factor in city’s decision
By Bert Lehman
The Clintonville City Council will have its say as to how to proceed with the proposals for a new municipal outdoor swimming pool.
The Clintonville Ad Hoc Pool Committee discussed three swimming pool proposals when it met on July 26.
The first proposal was the original proposal presented by Water Technology Inc. (WTI). This proposal included a variety of options that the current pool facility doesn’t have. The proposal carries a cost of $5.4 million.
The second proposal was a scaled down version of the first proposal. This proposal carries a cost of $4.6 million.
The third proposal is for a pool facility similar to the current facility, minus the kiddie pool. The cost of the third proposal is $4 million.
Committee member Stephanie Hintz told the committee that WTI informed the city the kiddie pool can’t be tied into the existing pool because of code issues.
Hintz said the cost estimate for the bathhouse in each proposal hasn’t changed from the original $1.5 million estimate.
“I believe that can be reduced significantly,” Hintz said.
The discussion turned to the operating costs of the pool facility.
Clintonville City Administrator Sharon Eveland said when comparing the revenue generated by the city’s outdoor swimming pool against its expenses, the city was losing about $35,000 per year.
She added that rates to use the pool facility would have to be increased if the city builds a new swimming pool.
Committee Chairman Brad Rokus told the committee that past discussions about the pool have been about the pool not being a revenue generator, but a service to the community.
“However, we also have be bear in mind we also don’t want to provide that service without any thought on what it’s costing us to provide the service,” Rokus said.
Next step
Rokus told the committee that he feels the committee needs to report its findings to the Clintonville City Council.
Eveland told the committee that the proposals are for amounts that are more than the city’s entire general budget for one year. That said, she recommended a combination of the second and third proposals.
Hintz asked if it was possible to obtain figures as to how much taxes would need to be increased to support each proposal. She said she didn’t anticipate the increase would be too high.
Eveland told the committee that there are a lot of other things the city needs to get done, and other revenue to generate.
“This individually is not a lot of money, I agree, but there are other things the city is going to have to do and that is going to add up,” Eveland said. “Then you are going to have a lot of people who are going to start raising Cain that we’re raising fees, costs and taxes.”
Eveland added, “Don’t get me wrong. I love the idea of a community pool, I really do. It’s just I have to look more from not the idea of having one, but can the city sustain it along with everything else that the city has to do. Those are my concerns.”
Before proceeding further, Eveland recommended the committee request feedback from the city council.
The committee ultimately recommended sending all three proposals to the city council for its discussion and direction as to which option or options it would like WTI to present to the entire council.