Plan For New Pool Treading Water

The 25-year-old city swimming pool that Aquatic Board member David Irving calls “that seeping lagoon" may have only a year or two of life left in it, with extraordinary measures, but it is far from clear that a new aquatic center will be built to take its place. 

After four years of planning, a county-wide petition that showed support, architect plans drawn and a site chosen, the county commissioners aren't behind the $3.5 million project and the city can't go it alone, not after having to more than double sewer rates last month.

Jed Kirkland of Interstate Engineering presented a tentative design and construction schedule for the pool to the Glasgow City Council at its regular meeting on July 12. Funding was based on establishing a countywide special improvement district, with the exact method of assessment undecided but perhaps by household. 

Establishing an SID requires holding a session for public comment, which is called, perhaps unfortunately, a protest meeting.

Councilman Neil Chouinard asked why the matter was not put on the ballot for Valley County. The pool has missed the deadline for being in the November general election and another election is two years away now.

"The commissioners didn't feel it was a county pool," said Commissioner Dave Reinhardt. "We're looking at it as a Glasgow pool. We don't have major support on the commission for it. We're not interested in running a pool."

Supporters of the new aquatic center say that a water park they envision would be an economic benefit for the town and the county from tournaments and tourist stops. Outlying schools are interested in busing kids in to take swimming lessons as part of their physical education programs.

The old pool has been leaking for so long that the ground is saturated. The deck and tiles are aged and cracked. The mechanical equipment is creaky. Parking next to the hospital is a problem.

Councilman Rod Karst, a pool supporter, said the Aquatic Board needs to meet again, get firm cost figures and come back for the endorsement of the county and the city.

"We had to raise the sewer rates and you wouldn't believe the amount of flak," Chouinard said. "I wouldn't go anywhere with this swimming pool without a vote of the people. We need numbers. The city of Glasgow can't afford it. It has to be the city and county for it to fly."

"The key is getting approval of the county commissioners," said Councilman Becky Erickson. "That's the only way it's going to work."

In other business, the council approved using natural gas instead of electricity to heat the sewer lagoon.

The director of public works, Robert Kompel, was authorized to sign water right claims from the Montana Water Court. Glasgow has four old wells, which supplied the town before the waterline to the Missouri River was built. One is now capped. This paperwork combines the well water claims into one claim, without giving up any claim to the water. The city still has the right to use the wells if needed.

City Clerk Stacey Amundson told the Council that there has been lots of confusion among customers since the sewer bill increased. Residential customers used to pay a base rate of $16.20 for sewer and $16.78 for water, for a total of $32.98. Since the rate increase, the basic rate for sewer is $39.86. When added to the basic water rate, the total is $56.64. This rate includes 750 gallons of water per month, which is rarely exceeded by elderly customers in small households. The price for each additional 750 gallons is $1.78.

The Council voted to begin negotiations with MARCO to amend their 1991 water agreement, so the city could sell up to 75,000 gallons of water a day to Dry Prairie Rural Water Authority.

The city received a bid of $21,000 to redo the gym floor. Since they had only budgeted $13,000, the project was rolled over to next year.

Mayor Dan Carney said the city is issuing tickets on derelict buildings and junky yards.

Councilman Chouinard and Officer Brien Gault agreed that the city ordinance against leaving vehicles and boats parked on the street for more than 60 hours is not enforced in the summer.

"(Police Chief) Bruce (Barstad) and I agree,” Gault said. “We're 17 miles from a major lake. People have boats and campers and no place to put them."

He said the ordinance was mostly for the winter, when the streets need to be free of vehicles for snow removal.

Megan Bechel was appointed to the board of the Glasgow Housing Authority.