East Grand Forks residents rally to save pool
July 12, 2012 at 4:48 pm in Grand Forks Herald
East Grand Forks residents met with city leaders on Thursday to determine what needs to be done to save the city pool, which was dealt a blow Tuesday when the City Council could not agree to spend nearly $2 million on needed repairs. Continue Reading
The last thing I want is for the Stauss brothers to build a new pool and lease it to the city. Wow….that is the worst idea yet.
That said….I am proud of Melody and her group. THEY have the city’s best interests at heart.
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Good luck with that, Rick. Why don’t you start a group to make it happen?
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Thanks tj! Looking forward to really getting this started. A lot of people have shown interest including many former residents who have fond memories of growing up at that pool. I know we have our work cut out for us, but we do already have one group interested in donating, so that is encouraging.
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I’m glad you’ve had interest already, and hope this thing gains momentum! I’m willing to help in any way that I can. Of course I’m not a Stauss (eye roll) so take that for what it’s worth.
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Thanks for your interest in SOP! Please “like” our facebook page to get updates on meetings and events. Email us at: sop.egf.@gmail.com with your ideas! We welcome everyone to get involved!
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It is too bad the meeting turned political. There was just a group of people wondering how they can help the future of the pool. They didn’t need to be told that they didn’t have the ability, and only one family in town can do that (which tells me who I’m NOT voting for mayor in November). No wonder why people don’t want to get involved.
There was an idea from facebook that makes a little sense…maybe have a limited sale of lifetime pool memberships for $1000+ each (maybe allow up to 6 family members on membership) to raise some of the capital needed…those are the kind of ideas the need to come forward.
How much can be could naming rights go for?
Can advertising be sold along fence (like at ball park)?
Could name engraved bricks or pavers be sold like was done at library and sherlock playground?
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I have a nice conversation with Marc Demers (as I live in Ward 1 – south end) and he was very informative. I had sent him an e-mail Wed night and he was nice enough to call back to speak with my concerns Thursday evening. I support the pool and getting the community together to look at fundraising or other efforts to avoid a large tax increase. Marc said he was in favor of stepping back to look at options….but he insisted he is not in favor of closing the pool for good. It might have to closed for one summer for repairs….but they need to access that among other priorities for spending. But wanted to say it was nice of him to call and speak at length with me about the issue. He mentioned the save our pool group.
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I sent an email to Marc Demers and didn’t get a reply or a call back. This is the second time that I have emailed him and Greg Leigh and no reply.
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Rick….we are not getting rid of hockey in EGF. I’m not a hockey mom. My son is a motorhead. He didn’t play sports. But his friends and classmates did. I would never suggest taking sports away from our kids.
We are a tight community. We will do the right thing for our kids. We always have. The pool issue will be solved. You need to be patient.
You complained about the pool leaking at the Century Apartments. From what I have heard that pool has been leaking for several years.
I quote you: “Just to remind everyone….Century Apartments pool is leaking big time…They have to add water to it’s pool everyday..Talk about ground contamination.”
Who owns the Century Apartments Rick? I know. Do you?
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I did not say to rid the whole hockey program as you suggested tj.. Get rid of a few other programs
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Answer me this….who owns the Century Apartments? Is it not the man you got mad at me for criticizing a couple of weeks ago?
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1More, you have some great ideas…some I’ve seen on facebook and some I have not yet seen. Love to hear more from you…e-mail us: sop.egf@gmail.com
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Sorry to disappoint you Kate, but Grand Forks has 2 pools and a splash park. EGF needs to keep its own identity…and EGF DOES need a pool, our kids and families deserve it!
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We in Grand Forks dont let a little thing like that stop us from coming to EGF to go to see a Movie.
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Cap…you can come to EGF to see a movie and do a little shopping but then you get your butt back across that bridge.
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Yes Ma’am.
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tj.. Do you even read the posting or do you just skim over of what you read? A question for you..
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Yes…I read them all.
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You come to our city just to watch a movie.. It that all?
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He shops at Neiman Marcus and Tiffany’s before heading home.
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I think its great to have and live in a community where people want to come together to help. This is why I raise my kids where I was raised and yes……support our pool. The outcome of support responses have been overwhelming as someone has had a memory there whether themselves, grandkids, family or daycare kids. I personally have had great memories there growing up and yes I even had to dodge cars to cross gateway to get there.
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In regards to the Stauss Brothers building a pool and leasing it back to the city I have a few questions.
1. Will they get city loans to build it? You know the same city loans they got to build their Boardwalk Entertainment Complex?
2. How much would they gouge the poor citizens of EGF when they lease back the pool? You know the same way the city is renting the banquet space from the “Boardwalk Entertainment Complex” for the 125th Anniversary next month to use as headquarters?
Just saying, wish more people would wonder about this kind of thing.
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Bobby, just to set the record straight…there was no discussion of that happening at the meeting. One person made that statement and it was not supported by anyone else in the room.
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I know there was no discussion of that happening at the meeting. I am however disgusted when it is implied that fundraising for this project will not happen because no one but the Stauss’s are capable of it. I am disgusted by the major conflict of interest that occurs when they get city loans to build “entertainment complexes” and buy new Cadillac SUV’s. I truly believe we need a new mayor and will gladly open up my wallet in supporting an opponents campaign. I will also gladly support the pool in our community. If Grand Forks can get support to build the no choice fitness center, I think EGF can easily get support to rebuild the pool. We have lots of local business that support our community and lots of great local residents that do support their local community.
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Bobby, I understand you were trying to make a point, but I really don’t want misinformation floating around. This meeting was not intended to be political. One person did take it in that direction and was soundly shut down. You have every right to your opinion, I just wanted to clarify what happened at the meeting. Apparently 5 people who disliked the comment didn’t understand that.
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Bobby: No one is taking that Stauss thing seriously. That’s not even on the table. I wasn’t there, but it must have been an outburst by a big shot. Do rich guys think they’re the only ones who understand that leases or purchases still cost the user? My goodness how arrogant and embarrassing for the other Stauss family members. Let’s move back to real pool issues.
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Alvin, as always, you are the voice of reason. I think people have every right to question that kind of outburst, I just don’t want them to confuse it as something that is actually “on the table” as you put it. I concur…let’s get back to the real pool issues.
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You know Bobby, I am beginning to think you are right. I was so worried about this NOT becoming political, but that outburst is what made it political. And that outburst was wrong.
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Does it bother anyone else that a person can build a home with a pool roughly the same size as the city pool for 2 million dollars yet when the city gets bids just for repairs they want to charge 2 million for repairs?
The answer is multiple bids and from many areas. If a local firm doesnt want local money let someone from Iowa come up and do it.
Its the same problem Grand Forks had with the Library.
Its not that people dont want these things, they just get tired of being ripped off by these thieves who see a juicy Government Contract.
Hope they find someone to do it at a reasonable cost and soon.
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You must have much money to say this Capt
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Why not think big….a year ’round pool with a fitness center somewhere on the North side of EGF….there has got to be grants and financial ‘aid’ of some form available for “family entertainment/exercise” venues….We live where the weather is not outdoor friendly for most of the year…We need a citizens league for this and maybe other things that could improve our quality of life here in the ‘nort-land’….The last thing the citizens need is the Stauss’s to buy and lease.
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If you think 1.5 million for a redo is steep, then you’d really be floored by what that would cost. Especially when you have to consider that you’re talking about mostly people from EGF and perhaps some local rural people even using it. With such a small population that just doesn’t seem feasible any way you look at it.
I know Rick thinks GF is the evil looking to control EGF, but there is the YMCA, and I don’t know what all is going into that new center south of town, but I did see they have water slide tubes sticking out of it…. So there are options for winter swims if hyou don’t mind us in GF attempt to control your minds in some fashion or other (Ask Rick…He knows what we’re up to)
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tundrabeast…you make some good points. Wish we could have something like mc stated. I even clicked “like”, however, it probably isn’t realistic or feasible for a town our size, especially since we can use the Y and Choice Wellness Center as you suggested. And don’t worry Rick. No one will force you to go over to GF for anything, but that’s your loss.
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It is true Tundra…. thanks for the truth..
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Hey Tundra.. How much pool space can be given during the winter.. Both cities cannot support 2500 people to go to the Y and another pool system during the winter.. Have you took the time to at least find out that the pool system on both sides of the river can’t take on both sides of this river.. You judgement is foggy.. Please explain where you got this from..
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Yes I do Tundra
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2 million dollars for a pool? Why does egf need to keep up with the jones?
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I don’t think that’s the point…They basically like their pool, but this is the fix it estimate they’re given…….I know it’s a good size pool, but I’d think a whole new pool would be about that much….Just a guess, but it sure seems steep.
I don’t blame them for wanting to keep what they have. The hard sell is that it’s only used for around 10 weeks a year or so…….
Hey! Just got a great idea…EGF needs to create a Polar Bear club with people willing to swim from the middle of April or May until October……Then all the nay sayers for such a short season wont have that nay to say about….
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So hey Ron.. grand forks (lower case) job is to suck the life out of EGF.. So for so good.. Don’t make this movie house a excuse.. We all know that the evil city to the west do not want EGF to win nothing.. If you have any views.. Tell me now.. I’m collecting all the false statements of everything I have read in the past few days..
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Top Ten False Statements
1. I didn’t do it.
2. I don’t know who did it.
3. I wasn’t there.
4. It wasn’t me.
5. I’m not sure.
6. I can’t remember.
7. I’m innocent.
8. I’m not guilty.
9. I don’t know how that got there.
10. I never touched it.
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This is funny tj..
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Tundra, I agree it is hard for long term residents to lose something they have had for awhile. There are 2 issues I just don’t understand about grand forks and egf residents. 1. It is incredibly hard to get these people to take at maximum a 15 minute drive across town to enjoy something that they believe they are entitled to in their neighborhood. 2. This big conflict of identity between egf and gf. You both live in the same metropolitan area and you really should pool your resources together and work as one singular community instead of 2 seperate communities.
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Side note. Why can’t 2 communities communicate when they are planning construction projects right after the bridges in these towns. Is it really necessary to have 2 seperate 2 week long projects on 2 sperate bridges within the same 2 weeks! Looks like really pathetic communication between the 2 cities!
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Since everyone said their slice of the pie about the pool.. It saddens me to know that everyone here like the idea to make this pool a 3 month affair during the summer.. However.. Make the pool 12 months out of a year make more sense to me as the pool can be paid for so much faster.. It makes no sense to me why a city funds a city pool that can only run for 3 months out of a year, This is so stupid.. Put a building over the pool and use it all year long..
Everyone knows that during winter freeze up the ground shifts.. And when it does shift the pool will crack due to the extremes of the force of freezing.. It’s the same thinking that got the pool in the problem in the first place..
You do know that building to the east of the pool was a system to inject chlorine in the pool.. It’s broken down and the chemicals are hand feed into this pool today..
If you want a pool.. Do not go to a 3 months a year program.. Build it right.. And spend the money well… The Hockey program takes most of this city’s these days.. The Hockey programs cost EGF the most money out of this city.. If you don’t understand the cost.. Just ask me.. For starters.. The huge cost to put the ice on the rink is equal to 250 homes paying to keep the heat on at their homes.. The electric bill is so big to operate these rinks that it’s almost 2 years of every person who lives here who pays for W&L bills It really does cost to to make ice in any area on both sides of the river.. Did you people ever think about how much money goes out of our city just to have a hockey program? So far I have read.. Screw the summer programs as Hockey season has been shifting the summer programs money to be a hockey city.. tj is wrong.. What the hell are you thinking.. Everyone knows that the city is using it’s money for the winter months for hockey.. The city don’t really care about the pool since it is a 3 month usage..
Drop one Hockey program and build a new pool.. Get it done..
Everyone must do their homework and add up the cost before saying a pool can’t be built here for a 12 month a year program.. The City uses almost uses 45% of of it’s money just for it’s hockey program.. If you don’t agree with me.. I suggest you go to city hall and read it for yourself .. The truth is in the facts.. Go read it..
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I don’t really know what to say Rick. You may know more about this than I do. There is a good chance that I haven’t given you enough credit. I’m sorry if that is the case.
Do me a favor. Don’t tell me I stepped in crap anymore. I don’t like that. If you want me to take you seriously don’t get mad at me when we disagree.
Now let’s be friends again. I like peace in my world.
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The Electric bills and the staffing costs is out of hand.. It’s not fair to use almost that much of the years budget to fund just for hockey.. It’s time to split up the cost for all seasons of the year..
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Oh tj.. It’s the spirit of the argument.. It’s most fun.. I don’t have to agree with you on everything.. But when you write.. I take notice.. You should know.. You make more sense than most people.. Just post what you feel.. I’d rather have you be who you are.. Lets settle us for a future argument .. It don’t matter.. I love your skills for telling us what you think.. That’s all that matters.. I know you are Pro EGF… I’m glad to meet you..
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Well cool….it’s nice knowing you to Rick. We will lock horns again soon. Stay out of trouble and remember…don’t call Hal. Come on here and give me grief instead.
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What most people don’t know about me is.. If one asks for help from me.. I will do everything I can do to help them.. I only help Poor People..
minnesotarick@yahoo.com..
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To get agree with tj.. Is not what I want..
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We managed to get along for 23 minutes. That must be a record for us.
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I stand by my statements from above. Narrow minded people like rick are what’s wrong with egf and grand forks. Instead of seeing what each city offers the community people like you try to seperate the community into us vs them.
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Ron, you are correct that the two cities need to work together. Rick will never agree with you. That said, EGF DOES need to keep its pool. It’s a part of the entertainment offerings all within walking distance of each other in EGF….Sherlock Forest Playground, Campbell Library, RRSRA Campground, River Cinema, and multiple eateries…not to mention unique shopping downtown. And…GF people use the pool too, because if you’ve ever driven by the GF pools on a hot day, they are crowded. Kids want to be outside on those days, so that ‘s where they go.
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