East Grand Forks council undecided on pool repairs
July 3, 2012 at 3:36 pm in Grand Forks Herald
East Grand Forks City Council members weren’t quite ready Tuesday to dive into the deep end when it comes to the city’s swimming pool. A week earlier at a work session, they appeared ready to approve $1.5 million in repairs to the pool, which was built in 1963. Continue Reading
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I like the way tj thinks.. You are correct.. The sewage system and streets indeed are the wants and needs of our city residents.. But let me go a step further..
Since the pool only gets used in a 3 month a year cycle it would make more sense to repair the pool and put a heated building over it so it could be used for the entire year.. Imagine this.. We can swim during the winter too…
Our city could capitalize on this and pay for the pool a bit faster.. It’s a workable plan that should be thought about in a serious matter.. It’s a workable idea.. Lets work on this for everyone..
minnesotarick@yahoo.com
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I live very close to Sherlock Park. It’s in my neighborhood. I swam in the pool when I was a kid. But I don’t like the idea of paying for pool repairs for ten years. A few things bother me about this method.
First the rock/tar overlay they did on our streets twice already is wearing thin AGAIN. How long before they do that AGAIN? It doubled in price the last time they did it.
Second our sewage lagoons are in sad need of repair. It’s an expensive project and we still do not know how much it will cost the homeowners in EGF.
Third the Senior High School is in need of repairs. We passed a school referendum which raised our taxes a few years back. We will be voting on extending it in the near future.
Fourth and lastly…we will be replacing our bridges down the road…starting in 2016 if I remember this right. Will our city incur costs related to those projects?
Paying for a pool repair for ten years worries me. That is a long time and in the meantime other projects need to be done. This is where I tend to agree with Gene and Schurkey…let the people that use facilities such as a pool…pay more to use them.
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I don’t know why they debate the costs of fixing the pool but never debate the costs of paying idle city workers to cruise around town doing nothing.
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I know repairs can be costly, and I don’t know what all needs to be repaired, but this is a cement pool. Other than pumps and such I would have thought a cement pool that gets used a couple months a year should be pretty durable…Even with our winters.
I know the first time they mentioned fixing this for that price tag just seemed way over board. My first thought was wondering if this was a mere re-conditioning or an entire face lift that someone thinks it needs to be modernized. I’d say the council needs to think “If it was my pool with my money what kind of reconditioning would I want?” My guess is that most of us would definately find a much cheaper solution….
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Wow, $20 for each one of the 10,000 users per year for 20 years.
Maybe the city could put out a bid for someone to provide swiming for the kids, you’d think someone could do it for $10.
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The pool is in terrible shape and loses tons of water each year which significantly increases operating costs. It has been “fixed” many times in the past. I have not read all the council minutes, but I suspect this project is more extensive than those in the past. I’m not saying that they should or shouldn’t fix it, but I will say that my children are among the 10,000 users per year. I wouldn’t mind paying a higher user fee or admittance fee each year so the taxes on the rest of the city wouldn’t have to go up the 7% that was stated in the article. I wonder if other would agree?
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” I wouldn’t mind paying a higher user fee or admittance fee each year so the taxes on the rest of the city wouldn’t have to go up the 7% that was stated in the article.”
What a novel idea, Melody. Actually have the people who use the attraction pay for it. Think that will ever catch on in the Grand Cities?
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I don’t know, Gene. I’m not pretending to know if user fees would be a feasible way to fund it, but I do know that the cost to swim right now if fairly reasonable and people might be able to afford a slight increase. Maybe fixing the pool would attract even more users…I don’t know. I just appreciate that the council is continuing to talk about this.
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Well, we’ll see. btw, glad you joined the gang here.
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Maybe this could be tried with the golf courses, streets, ice arenas, school sport teams, etc….
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Not everyone plays hockey. Fix it.
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Call your city leader and talk about a pool that could be used for a entire year.. East Grand Forks could do this.. All ideas would helpful for our future..
minnesotarick@yahoo.com
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I don’t know, but at `.5 million couldn’t they just tear out the old and put a new pool in it’s place? That isn’t that big of a pool. That price tag just seems too high for that size pool. Then again it’s been over twenty five years since I’ve been involved with construction so maybe things are that high. Hard to believe anyone can build anything then.
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That was supposed to be 1.5 mill
As for a year round pool……You could dig out a big pond and be able to use that year round too. Swimming in the summer and skating in the winter….Like some of those rustic Christmas cards…
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It’s the first part of July….Not April…..Such foolishness makes sense only to yourself…..because it really has nothing to do with GF as far as I can see……So how does your loathing for Forks figure into some grand scheme that somehow effects EGF wanting to fix a pool? Or is it that those of us in Faorks whouldn’t comment on it? Anmd if hyou think we’re bad…You should see those from Thompson…They really don’t like EGF…I’d give them hell while yhou’re at it….
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Looks like a bad case of Chubby Fingers striking again when I type too fast……
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Oh….And for clarification…EGF might be called a part of the “Grand Cities,” but it’s size and population barely makes it a big town. If it were standing alone it would be the size of Warren….Maybe Crookston, but I think it’s smaller……..So rick…Is this a case of size envy?
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Aren’t you glad you don’t drink Tundra? Yep…it’s time like this that I really enjoy having a clear mind. I used to make a fool out of myself to but I grew out of it in my twenties.
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Especially when Rick and I are playuing a round of toung in cheek…….Man….My chubby fingers are bad enough sober….So you definately got that right….
I thought you might call me out on the size of EGF…
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Hey…no problem. Rick needs to think a little more about what he says before he hits the submit button. There is no excuse for being so rude. Bottle fever doesn’t cut it for me.
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But tj… I’m a pro East Grand Forks I will stand by my thinking..
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Whatever works for you Rick. I love my community to. I’m just not as worried about being overran by GF as you are.
I enjoy our talks about our side of the river. It’s a refreshing change. But you might want to tone it down just a tad. Just sayin’.
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I’m with tj. I am pro EGF, too, but that doesn’t mean I need to be a GF hater. We should be working together for the benefit of people on both sides of the river.
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This is a little contrarian here, but outdoor pools are a huge asset. Fees can maybe be a little higher, but taxpayers subsidize libraries, arenas, baseball fields, city halls, airports and swimming pools. Since every pool loses money, a year-round pool would bleed the budget even worse. I can name five cities of 1,000 or less in the area who maintain outdoor pools and manage sewer ponds. I hate that they are so ungodly expensive to operate, but EGF is big enough to rebuild and maintain a pool. Why even mention GF? I don’t understand.
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Thank you for your input Alvin. I respect you and I am always interested in your opinion.
Okay….fix the thing. I can live with it.
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You are too nice. I can also agree with your view on this, if. We need to tighten our belts on about 1000 levels. If we did the other 999, I’d throw in the outdoor pool. We just aren’t getting it. You’ve got style. I hope things are going well.
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I’m home for the weekend, sitting on my own couch, and watching my own TV. Life doesn’t get any better than that.
We go back to the TC’s on Monday but will be done on the 17th. Hopefully this is it for us other than check-ups now and then.
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I agree outdoor pools are a big asset. They are aimed primarily at an age group that is always looking for something to do but finding little. The pool is adjacent to the new play area so it’s a magnet for families with kids of all ages. What’s the cost of having teens with little to do except get into trouble? Having a pool makes all kinds of sense for serving this underserved group.
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Teenagers should be working or doing household chores during the summer months instead of sitting idly on their duffs. This is what keeps them out of trouble. You need to deplete their energy so they go to bed at night at a decent hour.
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Am I too tough or what? As I reread it I saw a glimpse of my mother. LOL
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There is sucking sounds of money leaving EGF.. Don’t anyone hear this?.. More money leaves EGF than you know…
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pffft
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