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pool specs
Ten lanes 25 meters drop in starting platforms diving well.
Would make an excellent indoor pool, HS swim teams aquatics programs diving lessons.
Not much room to expand it, limited land so limited for outdoor expansion
most members from surrounding neighborhoods TWP
sure they might not like it if down the road they have to pay more for a facility they have kept going for many years.
These types of pools make money because their owners do most of the work themselves to get them up and running, do not have city employees getting paid to do the paint and fix up work like it will now. This is the only way these places survive, sweat equity....no big money is made, it is kind of a service for the community promotes family activities, keeps kids busy. Nothing wrong with that, just wondering why the city wants to buy a mature business, what is the need, do you need to learn how to run a pool before you build a bigger one?
Good Luck would hate to see the people who have supported this pool pushed out to favor residents with different addresses....think about it.
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Answers
I am hearing some information about this purchase that is incorrect.
First the pool and the purchase price is around $655,000. The city will put down an initial payment of over $300K. This will come entirely from the Parks and Recreation impact fee fund. The owners will carry the paper for the remaining debt. The city will pay that off with subsequence payments from the new funds coming into the Parks and Rec. impact funds. So the city will not incur any additional debt for this pool.
You should know that impact fees can only be used for the purpose that was stated that they would be used for. Even though they go through the General Fund they must be kept separately and they must be spend on parks and rec. type purchases. In addition they must be spend for these purposes within a reasonable time frame (normally within 5 years).
The city hired an inspector to check out the pool equipment and the property and its equipment have been keep up to date and they are all in excellent condition.
I have walked off the north to south length of the pool and it is just under 40 meters. I could not get into the pool area so I am not sure the width.
I have recommended to the City Staff that they consider putting a bubble over the pool so it can be used during the winter months for lap practice. The two High Schools have four swim teams that need places to practice during these months and this might be a closer facility and save us all on fuel. I understand the 4 swim teams are paying around $100,000 per year in the pool rental fees for these lap practices.
The north end of the pool could be extended to make the pool wider to accommodate more 2.5 meter lanes.
If the city and the school district could work together they could provide for a set contract for the $100,000 from the schools and this could also provide the city time to accumulate money for the expansion and the enclosure of the pool.
The parking lot could accommodate two more rows of cars and the over flow could park in the shopping center.
There is some questions about the operating expenses and the new maintenance needed in the future. I think the city could get more for their buck if they could expand and use the facility year round.
Currently the fees charged for the recreation classes and other Rec. activities cover the cost of those activities.
So the fact is regardless of whether the city buys this pool or not it will not have any impact on the current general fund crunch going on with the other parts of the budget. The only question is can our city leaders be creative enough to eventually provide for a indoor pool that could be used year round and be more cost effective? I think if they proceed in phases in five years we could have that indoor pool and a quality facility for the community.
By Ted Hackworth
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Answers to points
1. This is NOT a new pool
Ans. But the equipment is in excellent condition and it was inspected by an expert hired by the city.
2. It is not close to the same quality of neighboring aquatic centers
Ans. That may be true. However if the city first uses a bubble to cover the pool and builds up customers then go on to expand and cover the pool with a more permanent structure then we could phase it in over time and not occur any additional debt.
3. It's major customer are children from Summerfield (Township) that ride bikes to the pool.
Ans. There are also people living in the city that use the pool in the summer months. I understand that the fees will NOT be increased. However those that live in the City will be entitled to a discount in membership fees.
4. It does not increase pool space in Pickerington, nor will it attract anyone living outside Pickerington.
Ans. That is true. Currently there are no public pools. I think to make this facility work for us all it should be extended north and dig out the section just east of the diving well. If they worked it correctly they could create a Olympic size indoor pool and the cost would be a fraction of what it would cost starting from scratch.
5. Anyone in Pickerington that spends $'s outside of Pickerington on aquatic services is NOT going to spend those $'s this summer at the Swim Club - if they wanted that they'd already be members.
Ans. Rome was not built in a day. This indoor facility will not be built in a day. If we can first capture the money our school district is spending outside our borders then that would be a start. The secondary clients would be the club swimmers that travel to Lancaster, New Albany and the ?“Y?” on Refuge Road. We could have swim meets here if the facilities were larger.
6. It is not currently set up to help the Swim Teams practice. If that's the plan has the City even contacted the school system to see if there is interest?
When I was still on council I contacted the school district and talked with some board members. Since the project was in the early stages I got no commitments but there was interest. Initially if our swimmers could put up with the hardships of a bubble covering the pool I think it would buy additional time to get us all where we want to be.
7. Is buying an existing pool in the best interest of City Residents? If so, explain how?
Ans. Considering the purchase price this pool is being offered I would say the answer is yes. For just the pool it would cost over $1.5 Million and then you would need to add the remaining equipments. This buys us all time and allows the city to use the impact fees for the city and the community residents over time.
The draw back will be that it will compete with the neighborhood pools in places like Chevington Woods, Huntington Hills and Sycamore Creek. I think before we all jump on the band wagon for a facility like Groveport or Dublin you better do the numbers on what we can and can?’t afford. The secondary issue with these recreation centers is that they are heavily subsidized from the village?’s general fund. This pool won?’t be.
By Ted Hackworth
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Saves the schools money?
This saves fuel only. Why would the schools want to pay $100K to swim at the Swim Club? How does that save the taxpayers money? Gas only?
This should be a savings for them to do this - not just covering the cities costs. My kids don't swim & I'm not sure I want to pay to cover the Swim Club.
This sounds like a done deal without a lot of public input.
By Disappointed
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