Plains pool will open this summer
After months of uncertainty, the Plains pool will open this summer.
However, the exact date is unknown, according to Plains Mayor Mike Brinson.
“The town borrowed the money needed for the pool to open in anticipation that the pool committee will pay it back within a year,” said Brinson in his office last Thursday. “We hope that the pool will be open by the divisional meet, which would be sometime at the end of July.”
The fact that needs to be stressed, said Brinson, is that this is borrowed money. The delay in needing to have the money now is buying the pool committee and Plains community time.
“If the committee does not fundraise enough, or have the money, then the pool will not open at all in the summer of 2012,” said Brinson.
The money will be borrowed from a “capital improvement fund,” which is money the city has set aside for special projects or improvement to the community. There is up to $50,000 available in the fund, according to City Hall officials.
According to Brinson, the city is still waiting on bids for a sand filter, but has said that some costs will be cut back since volunteers will be installing it.
“We don’t think the [pool committee] will to be able to pay back the loan by next year, so we may have to use the pool budget for 2012 and 2013 to repay it,” said Linda Arnold, a Plains City Hall clerk and treasurer.
The pool committee board and swim team families gathered for a meeting at the Little Bitteroot offices last Wednesday evening to discuss fundraising, budgets and to outline a plan for the coming swim season.
The pool committee is preparing a variety of fundraising efforts such as a rummage sale, trade fair and candy truffle sale. They are also holding motor cross fundraising events in the spring and summer. Donation jars are also being dropped off at local businesses around Sanders County.
“The issue is next year,” said TaLoni DuBouis, a pool committee board member. “The city has gathered the money for a normal swim year and season in 2011, but we still really need to fundraise for the loan. But I do think the pool will look the best it ever has this summer.”
Part of the remodeling plans includes, not only a new sand filter, but also new paint and shower stalls.
Swim team members at the meeting were especially excited to hear the good news of the pool being open this summer.
“I basically spend my entire summer at the pool,” said Danika Whitcomb, a seventh grader from Plains who has been on the swim team for seven years.
“I was so worried when I heard it may not be opening this summer, but I am so relieved now. Swim team is awesome. Even though the practices can be exhausting, its loads of fun to travel around and race against other swimmers,” said Whitcomb, who attended the meeting with her mother. “I really don’t know what I would do all summer if there was no pool. I guess I’m sort of worried about the next few summers, but at least we have fundraisers to help with the money problem.”
“The pool is such a calming place for kids and a huge part of this community,” said Genevieve Spencer, a parent of kids on the swim team. “It’s really the only sport where you aren’t banging into other people; it’s safe and a great place to spend time in the summers. It keeps kids out of trouble and danger too.”
Upcoming fund raising projects incldue a 50/50 raffle at the Sanders County Trade Fair on March 26, a rummage sale on April 8 and 9 at the Plains High School Gym with donations being accepted at the Dew Duck Inn. Also, locally made truffles are for sale for $18, which goes to the pool fund.