Pool-only Park and Rec District to be on November ballot

DAYTON–Voters in Columbia County and the City of Dayton will see a proposition on the General Election ballot asking for approval to form a pool-only Park and Recreation District that will encompass the rural portions of the county and the City of Dayton, save the town of Starbuck and a handful of northwestern residences that are in the Prescott P & R District, County Commissioners unanimously approved July 3.

After hearing public comment and board discussion, Commissioner Marty Hall's motion to place a proposition on the November ballot to create the Columbia County Park and Recreation District unanimously passed.

Chuck Beleny of Dayton spoke on behalf of a group that formed last November to pursue a pool-only P & R District after 2022's proposed Metropolitan Park and Recreation District was turned down 62.5% to 37.5% by voters. He has presented to the City of Dayton's Parks Committee and has a resolution supporting the proposition.

The committee gathered 608 signatures of registered voters requesting the Commissioners put the matter to a vote. "The goal is to create a park and recreation district for the sole purpose of a community swimming pool," Beleny said. Swimming lessons, leisure-time activities, aerobic classes and, potentially, school swim meets, are purposes Beleny cited, possibly including an enclosure that would permit year-round use.

The committee's research included pools in Tukwila, Des Moines and Prescott, prompting a proposal of 20¢ per $1,000 of assessed valuation. "On a $300,000 property," Beleny said, "that would be $60 a year. In going around to residents, they are concerned about property taxes going up, inflation and everything, but they were fine with $.20 per $1,000."

"People were overwhelmingly happy and glad that we were doing this," he said.

The Columbia County Auditor will hold a special three-day filing period in August so individuals interested in serving as P & R District commissioners may file for the five commissioner positions, Beleny said. So far, Lisa Naylor, Ryan Paulson and Rob John have expressed interest in serving, he added.

Marcene Hendrickson spoke in favor of the idea. "We have to get started and to get started, we have to have money," she said. "We have to have money to draw plans ... and for matching funds for grants. This is a nice amount of money to be collected to get this pool operating."

It is estimated a new pool will cost $5 to $8 million, Naylor said.

The 20¢ excess levy is anticipated to generate $200,000 a year, Beleny estimated.

Discussion included information about the cost of operating and maintaining the pool prior to its closure, what matching money potential grants might require, potential insurance and pool construction companies, whether the excess levy would be under or outside of the tax cap, potential admission prices, insurance reimbursement programs for senior citizens, grants for maintenance and operation once it's built, and the community's advantage of municipal corporations and non profits for grant funding.

There were no comments in opposition.