Cheney seeks state jobs funding to fix aging swimming pool

City asks citizens to email legislators requesting funds for outdoor pool remodel

By BECKY THOMAS

Staff Reporter

A possible funding source to renovate the Cheney outdoor pool was the main topic of discussion at last week's Cheney Park Board meeting.

The city is hoping that citizen emails to legislators will help get a $1.5 million funding request added to jobs bills currently being discussed in the state Legislature.

Parks and Recreation director Paul Simmons told the board Feb. 9 that he was informed about the possible legislation a few months ago after the Washington Recreation and Park Association and the Association of Washington Cities encouraged jurisdictions statewide to submit shovel-ready projects for consideration of funding.

“We weren't sure if this project was going to come to fruition with the state's budget troubles, so that's why we haven't talked about it a whole lot until now,” Simmons said.

While there are several hurdles in front of the measure, let alone having Cheney's request granted, Simmons said it was worth a try to make the aging city pool more user friendly. The pool was closed for much of last summer due to leaks and equipment failures.

The request would pay for new equipment in the pump room and renovation of the locker rooms, add a water slide and replace the wading pool with a splash pad. Simmons said he made the request using rough estimates from a local pool company and input from a parks survey sent out to Cheney residents late last summer. More than 80 percent of the survey respondents said the pool was a concern for them; 43 percent said the current pool should be fixed while 40 percent wanted a new pool built at the 50-acre park.

Simmons said the slight majority for fixing the current pool, along with the monetary savings on refurbishing the existing pool led him to request the funds for renovation.

“It's much more cost-effective. It would probably be a third of the price to refurbish the existing pool than it would be to build a new pool,” he said. “Plus I think we saw with the Wren Pierson (discussion surrounding the failed 2010 bond to build a new community center at the 50-acre park), the people in this community really like things the way they are.”

Since Simmons sent out a call for citizens to contact their legislators last week Wednesday, he said 40 people have emailed their representatives asking them to support the funding request.

At the state level, support seems to be split between the political parties. Democrats in the House and Senate introduced the jobs packages, and Republicans have said they oppose government-funded construction jobs aimed at stimulating the economy. The proposals, which would raise money by selling capital bonds, would need a 60 percent vote to pass both houses of the Legislature.

Ninth District legislators expressed skepticism in a conference call with city officials last Friday about the proposed jobs stimulus package, and doubted that the pool proposal was something that would even be considered for inclusion.

Simmons said the pool supports 25 part-time seasonal employees as well as improving the quality of life in Cheney. If the pool isn't fixed, he said, those jobs and the pool are in danger of being lost. And while it's not a guaranteed funding source by any means, he said it's “worth a shot.”

“You can either sit back and do nothing or you can try to find any pot of funding available,” he said. “This is a huge need for the community and there's not a lot of money locally.”

More information on the proposals is expected later this week, following a new state revenue forecast set to be released today. For more information about Cheney's request or the letter-writing campaign, contact Simmons at 498-9295.

Becky Thomas can be reached at [email protected].