Opinion -- Ideas Sought to Finance Grant City Pool

By Debbie Roach

Just FYI to everyone. The pool is not a money making proposition for the city. It costs us money every year and has not seen a profit in over 30 years and we are looking at equipment upgrades of over $50,000 just to keep it going next year, not to mention tile work and trying to add chairs, shade for the baby pool and others things to make it a little nicer for our citizens. We keep it open because it’s the only thing our kids, both inside the city limits and outside the city have to enjoy in the summer. It’s also a way to provide employment opportunities for teenagers that may be looking at college expenses and living on their own.

Would incentives for part time seasonal employees be good? Yes, but we cannot afford it. Would paying higher wages be good? Yes, but we cannot afford it. Would raising the price to swim be good? Absolutely, but we try to keep it affordable for everyone.

After reading all the comments my question is…..who would be willing to help with a fundraiser to help raise $50,000 for a new pump, or $20,000 for a new diving board, or $1,000 for new chairs, or even make a donation to help keep the pool going? Would you be willing to pay an additional 1/2 cent tax to keep it open?? Any ideas on how to sustain our pool are welcome!

Many small communities like ours no longer have a public pool and those that do passed a bond issue or a tax in order to keep it going. Are you willing to invest time and a little money to keep it operating or are we going to have to close it like many other communities?

I personally do not want to see it closed and am open to ideas and thoughts on what we can do to keep providing this service to our kids!!

Debbie Roach is the Mayor of Grant City.

 

Opinion -- Do We Need a Pool?

By Debbie Roach, Mayor of Grant City

The Grant City Council voted to place a half cent (1/2) sales tax on the ballot that will be used for parks and recreation at our January meeting.

We talked about many ways to help sustain our pool and keep it operational including raising the cost of season passes or even doing away with passes and just charging a daily flat fee. We also talked about a property tax increase to help defray costs but we decided a sales tax initiative would be the best way to go for our citizens.

Each year the pool loses approximately $20,000 and the city cannot keep absorbing the expense of operating the pool without funds to do so. We are asking the public to vote “Yes” on passing a ½ cent sales tax to help cover the expense of keeping the pool operational and hopefully being able to purchase some items that will make our pool a more enjoyable experience for those that visit it throughout the summer. We might also be able to add to the playground equipment in the park or provide other outdoor opportunities for families to spend time together at the pool park area.

The chemicals for the pool have gone up in cost and along with paying salaries, buying supplies, filling it with water and replacing outdated pumps and lines the pool fund has went in the hole for the past 10 years or more.

If you have ideas, questions or concerns about the pool; we cordially invite you to attend our next council meeting which is Wednesday, March 16th at 6:30 pm at City Hall. We welcome input from our citizens on how we can keep our pool open and operational. We also welcome input and ideas on how to improve our community for all of our citizens.

The pool is a very important part of summer activities in our community and the surrounding area. It provides hours of entertainment and also provides summer jobs for many of our youth.

We were fortunate a few years ago to have a group of caring individuals step up and donate money, time and labor to revitalize our pool and we would like to keep it operational for many years to come so future generations can enjoy their time making summer memories at the pool.

We hope you will consider voting “Yes” on the ½ cent sales tax so we can keep our pool open!

Grand Opening Held for Pool Bathhouse

A grand opening was held Saturday to mark the completion of the Pool Bathhouse project. Present to mark the occasion were Chris Buckland of the DNR, State Representative Mike Thomson, Mayor Debbie Roach, Dick VanVactor, who was instrumental in the construction of the pool and the bathhouse, and pool managers Craig & Gina McNeese.
Around 30-40 children showed up for kids games at both the Pool Park and the Pool. There was free lunch provided.

Grand Opening for Pool Bathhouse

The City of Grant City along with “Grant for Change” and Grant City Community Betterment will be hosting a Grand Opening for the new Bath House at the Grant City Municipal Swimming Pool.
The celebration will be held Saturday, June 9th starting at 11 am.
Grant for Change will be hosting games for the children in the park at 11 am followed by a free cookout (while it lasts) sponsored by the City of Grant City and Grant City Community Betterment.
The cookout will be followed by kid’s games in the pool and at 2 pm we will have speakers and a ribbon cutting ceremony.
Governor Nixon along with federal and state legislators and representatives from Department of Natural Resources has been invited to attend and share in this day of fun and celebration.
The Bath House was made possible by a grant through the Land and Water Conservation Fund through the Department of Natural Resources.
It is a beautiful addition to our new pool and the park area and we hope everyone will take advantage of the area and enjoy it.
Please bring yourself and your family and join us for a day of fun and celebration!

Grant City to Hold Grand Opening for Pool with Free Food

The City of Grant City will have a Grand Reopening with free food and kids activities for the Grant City Pool, which is sporting a new bathhouse along with the new pool. The pool reopened Memorial Day Weekend; however, a special ceremony is being planned to mark the reopening of the pool.
Craig and Gina McNeese will once again manage the pool this year. The pool restoration project was made possible by numerous private donations and volunteers spending countless hours in order to restore the pool. At one point, the city had decided to close the pool for good and dig up the facility before learning that costs to restore the pool would not be nearly as much as expected.
Economic Developer Tammy Ueligger reported that there were 11 vendors and 75-100 customers at the initial County Market Days held May 19th at the school. The next one will be held June 2nd and there will be one held every first, third, and fifth Sunday of the month.
Ueligger reported that she plans to have two work-study students, one for the Economic Development office and one for Missouri Steel & Hose. The term will last for eight weeks and the goal is to give job experience and a sense of ownership of the community to local students.
Ueligger reported that there was a bunch of farmers markets applying for funding and that the state would allow her to resubmit the grant application on July 1st.
The council voted to have the water tower inspected to see if it needs cleaning.
Council members spent much of the meeting working out details for the Grand Reopening for the pool as well as last-minute needs for the facility as well as the Pool Park.
The next meeting will be held on June 20th at 7:00 p.m., back at its regularly scheduled time.

Grant City Pool Moves Closer to Opening

The Grant City Pool is moving closer to opening as construction is proceeding on schedule. The city will open the pool even though the bathhouse is not yet complete. The city received one sidewalk bid that they said was way over the estimate and that they rejected at a special meeting last Tuesday.

Much of the meeting consisted of selecting equipment for the new bathhouse. Cost for an ADA pool lift ranged anywhere from $3,000 to $7,000, which is required for the grant. Another alternative would be to put a chair lift on the rails. The whole park must become ADA compliant; however, the city missed the deadline for applying for a grant for rubber mulch for the park, meaning they will either have to wait until next year for it or find a way to pay for it out of their own pocketbook. The council went ahead and purchased some items for the bathhouse and will check on prices for other items. The city will also bid out the doors.

While the bathhouse is being constructed, the north gate will be used for an entrance and lifeguards will be stationed to keep kids away from the construction. Most of the bathhouse is done; the west side is still left to do. The city has started filling the pool, which will take three days and they need two more to mix the chemicals. The blocks for the structure will be done next week, followed by the roof on around the 18th. Portable restrooms will be used.

Grant City is not the only area pool to have problems opening this year; Mount Ayr, King City, and Bedford are all opening late because of pump problems. The council voted to leave all the prices the same as last year.

The pump went out at the Dollar General Store and the city did not have one in stock. The council voted to make it a policy to keep one on hand in the future.

The city will have a joint meeting with Stanberry's City Council, Middlefork Water Company, and Tye Parsons of the Northwest Missouri Regional Council to discuss the water situation.

The council voted to make July 4th from 1 to 6 a free swim during the Sesquicentennial Celebrations.

Letter to the Editor: Bathhouse Work Times

The work schedule for the bathhouse after the blocks are laid will be Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 6:00 pm and Saturday mornings at 8:00 am.

People with carpentry experience will be needed to build the roof and trim the exterior. People with plumbing and electrical experience will be needed to finish the interior mechanical work. Some cabinetry work will be needed in the concession and basket room areas.

This information may help to get volunteers to help. I will make arrangements if someone wants to work at different times other than posted.

Thanks
Dick VanVactor
Grant City

Work Days Planned for Pool Bathhouse

A Special meeting was held Tuesday May 24th, 7:00 p.m. at City Hall.
Present: Mayor Debbie Roach, Aldermen: Cathy James, Catherine Runde, Dennis Downing, and Bruce Downing. Clerk; Ayvonne Morin, Bridget Gibson, Craig & Gina McNeese, Bryson Scott.
Mayor called meeting to order.

Reorganization of Board: Dennis Downing made motion to reorganize duties, Catherine Runde department will be gas department, Cathy James, Pool/Parks, Dennis Downing, Streets/Bruce Downing: Water/Sewer/SW, Catherine Runde, seconded, motion carried.


Pool/Bathhouse: Dick VanVactor was present to give update on bathhouse project.
Dennis Downing made motion to bid out for labor only for sidewalks at the pool, city will supply materials: concrete, fill & rebar, Catherine Runde, seconded, motion carried.
Dick stated after the roof is on, they have volunteer work days on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, at 6:00 p.m. for anyone who is interested in volunteering.

Concession Lease: Catherine Runde made motion to charge $25.00 a week this season, to
lease the concession area, Cathy James, seconded, motion carried.

Cathy James made motion to adjourn and go into closed session pursuant to: 610 (3) employees, Catherine Runde, seconded, motion carried.

Closed Session: Cathy James made motion to hire three more lifeguards at minimum wage, Brooke Adams, Destiny Hern, and Bryson Scott, Catherine Runde, seconded, motion carried.

Cathy James made motion to adjourn closed session and meeting, Dennis Downing, seconded, motion carried. Meeting adjourned. 8:30 p.m.

Closed session minutes taken by Mayor Roach.

Concrete Poured for Bathhouse Floor

Concrete was poured for the bathhouse floor Thursday afternoon at the Grant City pool. City crews along with Scott Davidson and Earl Schrock were working to level out the concrete. The city is looking at a mid-June opening date for the pool once they can get the new bathhouse built up. The city has already hired lifeguards for the year and Craig and Gina McNeese are managing the pool on a volunteer basis. Once the bathhouse is complete, work will proceed on the Nature Trail linking the Pool Park with the ball diamond by foot.

Bathhouse, Nature Trail Construction Starts

Construction for the bathhouse for the Grant City Pool and the Nature Trail has started with the warm weather this week. The concrete truck came Friday to pour concrete into the bathhouse. City crews along with two contractors were there to work on the project that day. The new bathhouse will replace the old one which had been deteriorating. The city successfully got money for the new bathhouse last year and the old one was torn down after the pool had closed for the year. The replacement of the bathhouse follows the city renovating the pool, which had been deteriorating over the last 10-15 years. The old pool and bathhouse were put in during the late 1950's and lasted over 60 years.