| Council Mulls Pool Revamp |
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| News | |||
| Written by Travis Perry | |||
| Tuesday, 16 February 2010 22:40 | |||
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Anymore, the Osawatomie Municipal Swimming Pool is a sore sight for City Councilman Larry Ratley. Far from the original splendor of when it saw its first cannonball dive in 1963, the aging aquatic facility has seen better days. “I don’t think there’s anybody in the room that would argue it doesn’t need work,” City Manager Bret Glendening said at a City Council meeting Thursday. Following Ratley’s request to begin discussion of either renovating the pool or constructing a new aquatic facility, Glendening met with several engineering firms specializing in the field. He noted that Burbach Aquatics Inc., a Wisconsin-based firm, would be able to do an in-depth examination of the current facility for $4,500 and could provide the city with detailed information pointing officials in the right direction in regard to making decisions about the pool. “Before we invest that kind of money into a pool or whatever, we need to have that kind of information so we can make an educated decision,” Ratley said. “I would like to see us spend the $4,500 to make darn sure where we’re standing with the pool, because $4,500 in the grand scheme of things for an aquatic center is pretty cheap. “We have a fiduciary responsibility to the taxpayers to protect their money. And to protect their money, we have to spend a little money.” The pool is not filled each year until the beginning of May, Glendening said, so the city has plenty of time to make a decision on the matter. After bringing the issue up at the Jan. 28 council meeting, Ratley admitted that now may not be the best economic climate in which to pursue such an effort, but it doesn’t cost a dime to simply talk about the pool. In the grand scheme of things, though, Ratley views any potential renovation as a way of giving back to the community. “You have got to pay community rent,” he said. “Swimming pools, golf courses, parks, these are all things that people look for in a community.” Other items discussed at the council meeting Thursday included: Construction progress on John Brown Highway where it intersects with Pressonville Road. Councilman Troy Dalton said he was pleased that something finally is being done to improved the dangerous intersection, calling the project a short-term inconvenience that will save lives in the long term. A reminder from Mayor Phil Dudley that Osawatomie will welcome the legislative breakfast series at 7 a.m. Saturday in the Osawatomie High School cafeteria. The public is invited to discuss issues with state Sen. Pat Apple and state Rep. Jene Vickrey. “Be there or be square,” Dudley said. “It’s always good to have a full stomach before listening to legislators.” Heard an update on the downtown streetscape project and the Kansas Department of Transportation grant money funding it. Glendening said as far as he’s aware, “All the I’s have been dotted and the T’s have been crossed with the grant.” He invited council members to help determine an official start date for the project. “We’ve discussed it ad nauseam that we want to minimize impact on businesses,” Glendening added. “The only variable that indicates if it’s a good or bad time is the weather.”
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