Board takes step toward new pool: Resolution to fund facility passes

By WILL STEWART / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

In preparation for a new outdoor pool, Allen Barnes of the city’s Public Works Department prepares a construction fence. Parks and Recreation officials expect demolition of the old pool to begin next week. (Amy Satterwhite photo)

A new outdoor pool came one step closer to reality Monday night as the McMinnville Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted to fund the project by allowing the issuance, sale and payment of a 12-year capital outlay note not to exceed $2 million.

The passage of the resolution was not unanimous, however, as both Alderman Jimmy Bonner and Alderman Rickey Jones voted against the measure.

“It’s the wrong time to do it, the economy being the way it is,” said Bonner, who added he would rather have seen short term repairs of the current pool. He added he is not totally opposed to the possibility of a new pool, but would have preferred to look at the issue at sometime in the future.

Additionally, Bonner said he voted against the measure because he felt it was contrary to the wishes of the people, who voted overwhelmingly in January not to support a $5.5 million bond issue which would have financed an aquatic center as well as fire fighting equipment and a skateboarding park.

“It’s like the 1,295 people who voted “no” don’t mean anything when four people just go ahead and do it anyway,” he said. “Some people are wondering why they even bother to vote when their wishes don’t count.”

In response to this argument Mayor Royce Davenport said it was his belief the results of the referendum were inconclusive at best. “The board still doesn’t know what the majority of people in this city really want,” he said. The referendum, he argued, only showed that the majority who voted were against it, but was not necessarily representative of the community as a whole.

Besides, the mayor said, Monday night’s vote was an entirely different issue as it was only for a single outdoor pool, not an entire aquatic center, complete with an indoor and outdoor pool, which was what the people voted on in January.

Citizens on both sides of the pool debate were on hand for Monday night’s vote. Before a roll call vote on the resolution was begun city recorder Shirley Durham read board members a letter written by the Citizens for Better Representation, a group headed by Ray Weddington, which complained that the group’s members were not advised and informed of the city’s actions in regard to the resolution and did not receive adequate time to respond to the matter. The board then voted on the measure without debate.

“I think it’s ironic how we editorialize about voter apathy when in fact it may be voter resignation,” said Weddington. “I’m disappointed the board went against the will of the people and in the process showed that votes do not count in McMinnville.”

Citizens for Better Representation will meet tomorrow night to discuss their options, though he said their is not much they can do regarding the pool. He did say, however, that the group will be supporting future city government candidates who are “more tuned in to the will of the people.”

Long-time new pool supporter Keri McGiboney, on the other hand, who was in attendance with her son, Mason, was pleased with the actions of the board. “We’re very pleased to be getting a new outdoor pool and have a place where we can teach our kids to swim,” she said.

While the vote on the resolution didn’t go his way Bonner said he will not dwell on the fact. “What’s done is done,” he said. “The only direction to go from here is forward.”

As funding of the new pool was assured Monday night, the next step will be the putting out contracting bids for the project. City officials are hopeful the new pool, complete with a new bathhouse as well as new rest rooms for the Jungle Jym and walking trail, will be ready for use by summer 2003.