(Published in Tri-County Press newspaper on 3/15/06)
Since Wyoming�s City Council won�t hold a community forum to discuss the pending Aquatic Center proposal, I�d like to review some of the pertinent issues.
At the May 16th City Council meeting, the 7 members discussed locating the new pool in Woodlawn. Some of the concerns they themselves raised were:
1. Potential security and safety issues at that location.
2. The fact that Woodlawn (not Wyoming) zoning laws would apply.
3. The fact that Cincinnati water would have to be used (and thus paid for by Wyoming) or a pipe built from Wyoming to the Woodlawn facility (assuming it would be approved by the powers that be).
4. Wyoming would have to build a brand new bathhouse at the facility (additional expense).
5. A lacrosse and soccer field would be lost due to the new construction. (Where is this COST in the plan?)
6. A traffic light would be desirable at the site, but �current traffic counts at the Recreation Center driveway do not warrant a light.� The state of Ohio would have to authorize a traffic light, as this location is not in Wyoming.
Some facts about the proposed pool are:
1. The projected cost is $3.4 million (original budget was $2 million), of which $1 million is for new buildings and the plaza. (Where is the cost to DEMOLISH the old pool? Shouldn�t that be considered?)
2. The City will issue a bond to pay for the Aquatic Center; the principal and interest payment for this bond will cost the City approximately $244,120 per year. (I presume this will be paid with citizen tax dollars.)
3. Operating expenses are expected to be approximately $130,000/year. The proposed annual fee for a family at the new facility will be $250. Currently there are 256 members of the existing MuniciPool. (Doing the math: $250 x 256 members = $64,000; how will the huge shortfall be made up at the Aquatic Center? Membership would need to increase by over 100% to break even; similar pools in the city have operating costs much higher than the $130,000 proposed.)
4. Only the lap pool itself will be heated, not the other areas.
5. The hike bike trail will be constructed along the eastern edge of the site with access to the Center. (How safe will this be?)
6. The passers field will be lost due to the addition of the Aquatic Center. What is the cost to relocate this?
7. The new pool will have a thirty year life expectancy for the hard infrastructure. The slide (and possibly other �parts�) will need to be renovated in approximately ten years.
Currently there is much discussion about this proposal in the community, particularly on issues about cost and location. It is interesting that Council members themselves suggested a community forum starting last May; the Pool Task Force also reiterated this recommendation more than once. So why won�t City Council members agree to hold such a forum?
Respectfully submitted by
Debbie Bellman
Resident of Wyoming for 40 years