Committee plans to save pool again

Members of city council and community business owners met with the Committee for Safe Swimming on Friday, Jan. 7 to discuss plans for saving the Plains swimming pool from being closed this summer. The pool is facing problems as its filtration system is in need of replacement and could potentially fail, leaving water quality at a level unsafe for swimming.

The Committee for Safe Swimming is a group that works in the community to gain the support to keep the pool up and running. The group was formed in 2002, when the pool faced closure because the pool heater had broken down. Polly Gill headed the massive fundraising effort it took to get keep the pool open.

“The pool was in danger of being closed down because we needed funds that weren’t available through city hall,” Gill said. “We earned about $100,000 and saved the pool.”

However, when the funds were raised and the crisis was averted, the group became dormant, and only recently became active again when news of trouble with the pool filtration threatened closure. For Gill, this means that history will be repeating itself.

“We’re going to go forth and try to do some massive fundraising and grant writing to get enough money to make sure that the pool opens this summer,” Gill said.

 The committee consists of Gill as chair, founding board member Celia Huygens, board member and Plains Swim Team Coach Taloni Dubois, and board member and owner of the Dew Duck Inn Charlotte Buljung.

The city has received an estimate for replacing the filter from a Billings company, Watco Pools, who figure the maintenance costs to tally at just over $52,000. This would include installation of the sand filter, which is over six feet wide, five feet deep and 11 feet long, and would require that part of the pool house be dismantled, as access to the filtration system is limited.

The committee considered seeking as many as three other estimates from other companies, as a way to assure low costs and an accurate solution to the problem. The group also raised the question of whether or not the pool has been inspected in its entirety and is free from any other problems. Members of the city council Debbie Churchill and Shanon Hedahl plan to bring that question back to the Plains Parks and Recreation Board.

Gill also raised the question of what the end result for the committee should be.

“Our goal is the pool, but what is the goal?” Gill said.

Members of the committee agreed that the foremost issue for consideration is keeping the pool open for the upcoming summer, which means addressing the filtration issue. The committee then began discussions as to what the long term plans for the pool facility are. The group discussed the idea of eventually remodeling the entire facility gradually, beginning with the pool house. An agreement was reached to seek professional consultation as to what the best way to proceed is.

For now, the committee has a plan to start the fundraising process. The group plans on getting a website up and running soon, and will also take advantage of other social media.

Members of the committee believe in the importance of the pool as a valuable resource to the community. Buljung is also inspired to take up this cause because she has heard firsthand how important it is.

“My interest in the pool stems from hearing from people in the community,” Buljung said.

Buljung also stated that the pool is an indicator of a thriving community.

“The pool is one of the things that makes this town look alive,” Buljung said.

The committee plans to hold its next meeting at 7 p.m. on Jan 25 at the Clark Fork Valley Hospital, and is actively seeking people to join the cause.