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Pool site to remain in public use
BY JAME S JACENI CH • STAF WRITER
MONTEREY - The Highland County Board of Supervisors held a public hearing Tuesday to gather opinions on dedicating the pool area open to the public, for outdoor public use, as required by the Land Water Conservation Fund Act.
County attorney Melissa Dowd explained, "We hope ground will be broken fairly soon. One of the requirements of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act (source of a $110,000 grant that helped finance the pool project) is that the land be open to the public for outdoor public use.
"The county isn't giving this land to any entity by dedicating it," said Dowd. "It is and will remain owned by Highland County."
The deed of dedication says the 2.63 acres the pool will be on is open for public use in perpetuity, though Dowd said that doesn't necessarily mean forever. "I feel confidentthat this will be continued to be owned by the county, but if 15-25 years from now, there is a different need, there will be a way to work for that."
There was no public comment.
Supervisors voted unanimously to adopt the resolution dedicating the pool land to public use.
Supervisor Robin Sullenberger added, "We owe the (recreation commission) an answer how we are going to proceed on this." He was referring to earlier requests from the pool steering committee for guidance and assistance in obtaining money to build a bathhouse and equipment room to go with the pool. A bathhouse and equipment room are not part of the original grant and no money is currently available to build them.
"We will have a pool in the ground and nothing else," said Sullenberger. "Do you have thoughts what our plans are and how we are going to move forward?"
Supervisor Jerry Rexrode said, "Our concern is the cost of the building and how is the funding going to come about. We had a public hearing to look at that. From the comments I heard, people don't mind a building but don't want to spend $400,000-$500,000 on it. We need to set a date and have a work session."
"The recreation commission has said they don't want to use county money; they have a proven track record of paying money back," said Sullenberger. "We owe it to them (to do something). A work session needs to be sooner than later."
"Sooner than later, I agree, to develop a game plan is crucial at this point," said supervisor David Blanchard.
County Administrator Roberta Lambert said construction of the pool is to begin the middle of the month or thereabouts.
Sullenberger said, "Let's get together next week if next week is the beginning of construction."
Recreation commission treasurer Maggie Cavell pushed for an earlier meeting. "Can't we do anything this week? We've got to have the foundation in place before we start work."
Supervisors set a meeting with the recreation commission for 7 p.m. Monday, May 12, starting at the pool site at Highland County Public Schools.
"We need to decide if the tree line needs to come out and where the water line needs to go," said recreation commission chair Sherry Sullenberger.
Supervisors decided Monterey councilman Francis Fenn and plant operator Mike Isles should be invited to the meeting because the water connection would be part of the discussion.
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