I've read a number of newspaper articles the past several weeks regarding a city swimming pool. I gather many voting and taxpaying citizens have done a lot of good research and offered it to our civic leaders to assist them in making a decision. I've also read where civic leaders have praised this work. Sounds good. Unfortunately, I also gather that this good research is, for the most part, being set aside and very little of it, if any, is being considered and used in the decision process. I wonder if the decision to build a concrete pool has already been made, perhaps some time ago.
From the Aug. 22 Pine Journal, Parks Commission Dives Into Concrete Pool Research, "Parks Commission members said they were sticking to their initial option about the pool being a concrete one...." So has the decision already been made?
From the same Pine Journal article, Mayor Ahlgren stated, "The trouble now is I don't want to delay building a pool. I would say go with building a pool now...."
From the Sept. 18 Duluth News Tribune, Cloquet Looks To Breathe New Life Into Pinehurst Pool: "To start construction right away in the spring, that would be my hope," Ahlgren said. "We are going to replace the pool, without a doubt," Ahlgren said. This causes me to further beg the question: Has the decision already been made?
The Aug. 22 Pine Journal article also reported, "Parks Commission member Ron Hanson stated, 'We need to look ahead...to get best value.'" Yet, the Sept. 18 Duluth News Tribune article reports that a city official from Grand Marais indicated that traditional swimming pools generally operate at a loss. Is that best value?
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If I understand correctly, a sand pond costs less and would generate revenue year round, but a concrete pool costs more and would generate revenue only part of the year. How does that make a concrete pool best value?
There have been several letters to the editor in the Pine Journal from community residents and they all seem to have similar thoughts about this pool situation. The following are some thought patterns that I read in those letters: 1) Several issues are not being discussed. 2) Many questions are not being answered. 3) There seems to be a rush to make a decision. 4) They seem to lean toward keeping the sand pond.
This past May, I responded to a survey about a Community Center. There were also questions about a swimming pool as part of that survey. I attached to my survey response a two-page letter addressed to the city council. I also sent copies of that letter to my council representative, to the council's at-large representative. The following is what I said in that letter about a swimming pool.
"Concerning building a new swimming pool. Before we do this I suggest that the city have a dialog with the Black Bear Casino. They are upgrading to a destination resort and it wouldn't surprise me if a water/water park facility were in their future. Perhaps such a facility would be available to the local public as well as resort guests. We should be very careful not to burden ourselves financially and possibly end up with a white elephant."
Another element of this pool discussion should be the question, "Do we even need another swimming pool?" We already have one at the middle school and I believe the fitness center on Cloquet Avenue has a pool. And again, if nearby private entities have any future plans for a water facility, perhaps our city leaders shouldn't burden the taxpayer into competing with that.
I understand that about 1,000 people responded to the survey last May. This would have a mixed view about a swimming pool. I also understand that a petition with about 1,500 signatures has been submitted. This would have a dedicated view about a swimming pool. I hope our civic leaders will pay careful attention to the public's voice and the many parts of this swimming pool issue and do the math, and further explore if we even need another pool at all. If we have to go through another summer without a pool, then so be it. I'd rather we do that than to make a rushed, and possibly a wrong, decision.
