Pool committee asks city council to take action
Over 30 attended June 26’s Grant City Council meeting in support of a new aquatic center.
The Perkins County Pool Committee presented updated information on their fundraising journey that began even before their group formed three years ago.
The committee gave a 46-page packet to the council members and attendees documenting the project. Mayor Mike Wyatt said there would be no discussion about the information presented.
Committee President Lisa Schmitt said their recent pledge list has over 100 members of the community who have pledged to donate to the new project.
Schmitt explained that a community’s assets draw young people and retirees back to the community.
“They keep our city alive,” she said. “It’s because of all our assets that make living in this town and county worth it.”
Connie Pofahl, pool committee member, said as past City of Grant park and rec director for 25 years, she managed the pool almost half its life. She encouraged the council to consider the following seven recommendations for formal action at the next meeting.
1. The City of Grant has owned and operated the public swimming pool for nearly 60 years and the committee recommends the city continues to own and operate a public aquatic center (swimming pool facility.)
2. The committee recommends constructing a new municipal swimming pool/bathhouse (aquatic center) as shown on a plan by Carrothers Construction Company, LLC at a cost of approximately $2.3 million.
3. The committee recommends the council authorize the committee to continue to be proactive throughout the design and construction of the new aquatic facility, until turnkey ready; and retain authorization to make minor adjustments within the project budget as the project develops.
4. The committee recommends the establishment of the capital campaign cabinet and the continuation of fundraising.
5. The committee recommends the project be funded by a combination of funds already raised and held by the Nebraska Community Foundation, the sales and use tax (collected and to be collected,) a capital campaign and the City of Grant reserve funds.
6. The committee recommends the city authorize Carrothers Construction Company, LLC to prepare the plans and specifications for the project followed by public bidding of construction work in July and August of 2018.
They chose this date because the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission grant funded by the Land and Water Conservation fund is due Sept. 7 and could cover as much as half of the cost of the project. The Nebraska Department of Economic Development Civic and Community Center Financing Fund letter of intent is due by Jan. 15, 2019. The city is eligible for $250,000 in grant money.
7. The committee recommends a tentative start of construction in the spring of 2019 pending bid letting, so the new aquatic center would be open the following swim season of 2020.
Jana Turner, Perkins County native and former lifeguard at the pool, questioned the obstacles that were hindering the council from taking action on this project.
One, she assumed, is money. Offering a visual aid with the council chambers chalkboard, Turner broke down the prices between Miller and Associates, $3.4 million; and Carrothers, $2.3 million, for the construction of the pool and bathhouse.
“But how do we get that 2.3 million?” asked Turner.
She explained that Blue Hill, population 941, is putting in an almost identical pool.
They received a $375,000 grant from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development.
Back to the chalkboard, Turner subtracted 1.4 million generated from the half percent of sales tax from the 2.3 million, leaving 900,000; minus a $375,000 grant, leaving $525,000; minus the 200,000 the committee has raised, leaving $325,000.
“To me, $325,000 is an attainable goal,” said Turner. “What if we don’t get a grant? My question to you is what if we get two or three?”
Turner told the council they need them on board, pointing to all the people who attended the meeting to support the project.
“You as representatives are supposed to be their voice. You’re supposed to be our voice. You’re not supposed to be your own, you’re supposed to speak on behalf of the community.
“Be that voice. They want to be heard.”
First Lady speaks
At completion of the pool committee’s presentation, Toni Wyatt, wife of Mayor Mike Wyatt stood to speak.
She said after reviewing city financials that afternoon she found an annual budget approaching $10 million.
She asked to take into consideration the cost of nearly $100,000 of concrete for one city block, the cost of one block for a sewer or water main, or even one power pole.
She said the funds being touted as excess funds are needed by the city because they are partially self-insured. If something unexpected happens and major repairs are needed, the city’s excess funds would pay for that.
“It’s not excess funds. We need it.”
She questioned if the reserves weren’t available if the citizens would really like to write a bond just to pay salaries and daily operational expenses.
She stated it has taken 10 years of thoughtful and frugal management to gather these reserves.
She commended the pool committee for raising $200,000 but asked where the rest of the balance was going to come from. She said the grants mentioned to this point were just blue sky to her.
She stated the funds needed would simply be a form of a tax money in one way or another, coming from the people who live in the City of Grant, not the people who live in Perkins County.
She explained how raising taxes would affect the citizens of Grant and its programs.
Wyatt turned to the council and said if it’s going to be a tax on the citizens of the city, they deserve a right to vote on a project she claimed would increase taxes over the next 20 years for “a luxury that would be used for roughly 70 days per year.”
She also questioned the operating expenses for a larger pool.
She said it wasn’t good fiscal responsibility to spend money out of the reserves because at any point in time, there might be an immediate need for it.
“Council men and women. One of the major responsibilities as the city council and the mayor is to maintain strong financial stability within the city. That’s your job. One of the first financial lessons that we are taught when we are young is the difference between a want and a need. I ask the city council to consider what that difference is.”
Wyatt said she was not against pool improvements, and threw a check on the table for $2,500.
“If one-half of the households in Perkins County would do the same, you would have your $1.5 million. It’s that simple.
“If it’s a Perkins County Pool Committee, Perkins Countians should all step up. It shouldn’t be just the City of Grant people.
“I am against forcing the citizens of the City of Grant, many of whom are retired and on fixed incomes, to carry the load for this thing through increased fees and backdoor taxes. It’s just not fair.
There’s my check. That’s my challenge.”
Wyatt went on to explain how much she loved the town, being born here 60-plus years ago. She said she hated what Facebook and backstabbing are doing to the town she loves.
“We are better than this. And we can get this done if we work as a county and take it off the backs of the citizens of Grant,” said Wyatt.
Pool committee defends
Schmitt said they have no intention of raising taxes, only to use the half percent of sales and use tax.
Turner said she also wants the entire community and county to step up and be on the same page. She said she also hates the backstabbing, and they are trying to remain positive.
“I think if we bound together we can make this project happen and not worry about having to raise people’s taxes or put it on families in town. I truly 100 percent believe that,” said Turner.
Pofahl spoke of the farmers and ranchers coming to town and spending money in the city and participating in city activities. She said it’s all about the youth.
“If we can’t keep the entities that we have to keep families here we will be a dying town,” she said. “If we can work together and find a happy medium, we can do it.”
Mrs. Wyatt said it lists in their requests for approval to use the city reserves for funding, and that is her objection.
Pofahl said she would step up to Wyatt’s challenge and write a check for $2,500. Wyatt said they just needed 598 more people to achieve the goal.
Pofahl said if they’re positive, they can do it, because it is not a negative thing for the community. Wyatt agreed.
Betty Thomas then asked to have everyone who supports the pool to stand up. Every single person in the audience stood. Including Mrs. Wyatt.
Sheriff Jim Brueggeman said grants can’t be applied for until the city is on board with the project, and everybody needs to work together to make it happen.
Pofahl said many are waiting to donate until they see an actual plan.
Curb concerns
John Long expressed his concern with the disrepair of the curbs and gutters in the city. Being on a state highway, he asked whose responsibility it was to repair them. A clear answer was not available.
Long spoke of the great amenities of our community, such as the school and the hospital.
“Sometimes you gotta go out on a limb, roll the dice and take a chance,” he said.
He said he has been the mayor and served on the council and he understands working with figures. He said he thinks the pool committee is looking for some positive encouragement from the council to move forward.
“You’re not gonna stand still in a small town. You’re gonna go forward or you’re gonna go backwards,” said Long.
Mayor Wyatt said the pool would be on the next agenda.
Agenda
Council member Andrea Brueggeman asked why her and Darrell Pierce’s request to be placed on the agenda for handicapped parking wasn’t on the agenda. Pierce said he had forwarded the email from Wyatt with an explanation. Bruggemann said Pierce had told her he had the information needed for it to be placed on that agenda. Pierce said Wyatt was going to look into the matter further and it would be placed on the next meeting’s agenda.
Cemetery
Two resolutions concerning cemetery fees, rules and regulations were approved with three yes votes. Wyatt voted yes to pass both resolutions after Greenwood abstained. Greenwood moved to table the first resolution, stating he didn’t feel they could vote on the resolutions since there is no cemetery board in place to advise the council. That motion failed due to lack of a second.
City Clerk Jessie Faber said that haven’t had anyone interested in serving on the cemetery board.
Liquor licenses
Two liquor licenses were approved for Harlon Brott to serve alcohol at the Perkins County Fairgrounds on Aug. 4 and Aug. 18 for weddings.