Story clintonvilleswimmingpool
It appears there will not be an advisory referendum on the future of Clintonville’s outdoor swimming pool on the April ballot.
Although the Common Council voted in November to hold a referendum, it has not followed through with any concrete plans. The deadline to get the referendum on the April 7 ballot is Tuesday.
The council voted 5-3 Monday to put the question to voters, but, with two members absent, six votes were needed for the motion to pass.
The proposal would have asked voters whether the city should “pursue design and explore funding options, including grants, bonds and fundraising, to renovate/rebuild the Clintonville outdoor municipal swimming pool with the understanding that future taxes will be impacted.”
Resident Stephanie Hintz urged the council to sound out voters for direction. She noted the vote would only be advisory and not bind the city to any specific plan or costs.
Alderwoman Gloria Dunlavy, however, said the Park and Recreation Commission had decided it did not have enough information to move forward with a referendum.
After the pool’s opening was delayed last summer because leaks were discovered, council members asked former City Administrator Lisa Kotter and park and recreation director Justin McAuly to get more detailed information on repair costs, as well as the costs of a new pool, and initiate a fundraising effort.
Dunlavy said a member of the Park and Recreation Commission is looking into grants, but no other action had been taken.
Alderwoman Lois Bressette questioned why no study had been completed.
“I am disappointed we don’t have information,” she said. “The pool has value to our community. We need it to market the community. People value our pool.”
“We don’t have to explain ourselves now,” McAuly said. “We are exploring funding and our options.”
Alderman Jim Krause said there was no money for a survey, a study or to get cost estimates. He was not convinced the pool is needed.
“We have a perfectly good indoor pool,” he said. “Why has New London, Green Bay and Shawano closed their outdoor pool? They are not feasible in this climate. It is like dumping water into a hole.
“We do not have money for a survey. We would be voting on a whim. Why saddle this city with more debt? … I have heard some flimsy excuses for a pool.”
Alderman Mark Doornink said he supported the referendum to hear what residents want to do about the issue.
Alderwoman Mary Beth Kuester said residents would want to know how much a pool would cost, and that information was not available.
The referendum would be just one step, Mayor Judith Magee noted. She reminded council members that the first step to building the new high school was to ask people if they supported the idea. It took three years to get the issue on the ballot for a final decision.
Interim City Administrator Chuck Nell said he would prefer to have details before a referendum is put on the ballot.
“The more information you have for the public, the better chance of success,” he said. “There has been no development done. There can be a wide range of costs, and no study has been done on options. There is no money in the budget to look at it. It hasn’t been budgeted for.
“If it (the resolution) is too general, you risk the chance it will get turned down before you get started. There is a proper way to go about it.”
A study by Neuman Pools in 2013 concluded there could be a million dollars worth of repairs and upgrading needed at the pool.
story created on Thursday 1/22/2015 at 10:13:44 am by Jody Otros
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