| Walbridge tries to keep village pool afloat |
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| Written by DEBBIE ROGERS Sentinel Staff Writer | ||
| Friday, 20 January 2012 11:09 | ||
At Wednesday's meeting, council narrowly approved applying for a $70,000 Ohio Department of Natural Resources Water Conservation Fund grant, and matching it with $70,000. Council President Ed Kolanko, who was acting mayor for the night, and Nathan Eikost voted against the motion. "I would support this. My concern is you're asking for $70,000 and it has not gone through finance committee," said Kolanko, who is chairman of that committee. "I understand the need for the money. I understand the need for the pool. I'm kind of torn." Sue Hart-Douglas, who is chairwoman of the parks and recreation committee, apologized for the rush, but said the grant application deadline is Jan. 31. She added that the pool needs $27,000 to $35,000 in repairs now to open this year, and a matching grant will at least get the village some funds. Walbridge is expecting $1.35 million in revenue this year, and has budgeted every penny. The village does have an emergency reserve of $1.4 million. "It's not in the budget," said Patty Crawford, fiscal officer/tax commissioner, of Hart-Douglas's request for the matching $70,000. The motion passed with Hart-Douglas, Pat Fox, Jan Sawaya and Fred Sloyer voting "yes." After the meeting, Eikost said $70,000 was too much money to commit to, without committee discussion. "It should have gone through the finance committee for a vote," he said. Hart-Douglas said the pool would not be able to open this year without some substantial improvements to bring it up to code. They include drain replacement covers, costing between $1,200 and $10,000, an automatic chemical controller estimated at $3,200 and a new slide, priced at $4,672. The committee would also like to renovate the baby pool, which was closed last year due to code violations, patch and repaint, replace the heater and purchase new lounge chairs and sun shades. She added that the Wood County Health Department would not let Walbridge open the pool this year without changes. "There's no more grand-fathering," said Hart-Douglas. The baby pool was closed this summer because it needs an independent circulation system. Another example of code expenditures is the village being required to have a landline at the pool, which cost $2,800 last year. Her research shows that area pools, "from Inverness (club in Toledo) to Pemberville (another village pool)" have all had significant code improvements in the last decade. Walbridge has not. Sawaya said the pool is a necessary investment for the community and its youth. Without it, she expected teens would have too much time on their hands and find trouble. "You close that pool, you're going to have to hire more police," Sawaya said. The pool is a regular topic at council meetings, fiscally and socially. Two years ago, Mayor Dan Wilczynski had proposed shuttering it for the season to try to close a budget gap, but after some residents' protests and a membership drive, it opened. The pool also annually doesn't run in the black. This year, $8,000 was transferred from the general fund for operations, which included $7,000 in payroll costs. The village took over the privately-owned Aqua Terrace Swim Club in 1994, purchasing it for $13,000 and making $6,200 in improvements. Hart-Douglas said there has also been discussion about lowering the pool membership rate, which is $150 for a resident family, to try to attract more people. The parks and recreation committee has been assisted with the pool needs/requirement list by Yvonne Thoma-Patton, a former YMCA employee. Hart-Douglas said she's been attending committee meetings and did a thorough inspection of the pool in December. Council voted Wednesday to give her a $100 gift card. Council tentatively set a special meeting for Monday at 6 p.m. to approve minutes for the Wednesday meeting, which needs to be done to meet the grant application deadline. |
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