Belmont Pool Decision Looming for New Commissioners
Consultants heard from local residents the past few months regarding the future of the Belmont Complex pool in East Franklin Township and heard from them again at a public meeting last night (KP File Photo).
by Jonathan Weaver
Yesterday evening was the second opportunity for public input regarding the future of the Belmont Complex swimming pool.
Commissioner-elects Pat Fabian, Jason Renshaw and George Skamai were three of the handful of residents present for Pashek Associates’ presentation into their results.
More than a dozen local residents attended a public meeting in September.
It would cost about $850,000 to upgrade the pool to satisfy new ADA requirements and leave it as-is, or about $1.3 million to convert the pool into a water park.
“That’s a considerable investment when only 8-12 percent of the Armstrong County population is using the pool,” Fabian said.
Fabian saw adding warm weather – only a $12,000-24,000 cost – as a short-term investment that could increase attendance this summer.
He also thought officials shouldn’t be “narrow-minded” and only think the space has to be occupied by a swimming pool.
“Why can’t we put another form of recreation on that side?,” Fabian wondered. “We need to be looking at other options, too. The pool might be the right thing to do, but what else can we do that might be in the best interest of the County?”
He will discuss that question with the other newly-elected officials once they take office in a few weeks.
Declining use, operational expenses and aging amenities caused county leaders to undergo the $60,000 facility study.
A 90-minute public meeting on the topic also occurred in September.
Pashek Associates Consultant Bob Good has been part of nearly 40 swimming feasibility studies during the past 15 years and worked with Armstrong County in the past as leaders developed their parks and recreation plan.
“We’re looking for the best way to keep this pool open and operational,” Good said in September.
A survey was available via the County website.
In July, more than a dozen local and regional residents – including the three sitting commissioners, Belmont Complex Executive Director Gary Montebell and Head Lifeguard Leslie Campbell - started exchanging thoughts regarding the Belmont Complex pool.
The feasibility study has been underway at least since July 2014.
Local News | jweaver December 16, 2015
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By jorn jensen, December 16, 2015 @ 9:08 AM
Pat Fabian - don’t even be talking about spending an additional million dollars on that boondoggle.
By Just sayin, December 16, 2015 @ 1:13 PM
Put a skateboard park there to attract out-of-towners. The kids need somewhere to go. Have them skate at own risk.
I know of none around the area.
They can get high on skating instead of drugs, plus get exercise.
The whole Belmont could then be a skating complex.
By Just sayin, December 16, 2015 @ 1:14 PM
If it comes between the pool or the Health Center, the pool must go, though.
By Watchingfromadistance, December 16, 2015 @ 4:12 PM
Gentlemen, First and foremost, congratulations on your winning the election. I understand your need to raise taxes, but I implore you to not continue putting good money to bad. We have in the past dumped way too much money into the Belmont, and it needs to stop. Seriously,$850,000.00 to find that another attempt to save the pool? You say that only 8-12% of the residents use the pool. Everybody release that it has lost several thousand gallons of water since the summer of 2014, and that it needs two new heaters, not to mention the antiquated chlorine delivery system to sanitize the water. I firmly think we need to sell the Belmont Complex, and the Health Center to a private owner. We, as taxpayers have towed the line too long, spent thousands and thousands of dollars on “feasibility studies” on the Belmont, Health Center, the Armsdale Bldg, and the 9-1-1 Center. When is enough, enough?
By Watchingfromadistance, December 17, 2015 @ 1:06 PM
Gentlemen, First and foremost I congratulate you on your win. Now; as a taxpayer, I implore you to take a good strong look at the Belmont Complex. We have already sunk more money into that place than we should have. The past two Board of Commissioners have weaseled away hundreds of thousands of dollars of taxpayer money on studies, surveys, reviews, etc. for the Belmont Complex, the Armsdale Building, and the 911 Center.
Starting with the Belmont Complex, it is a well known fact that the swimming pool has lost thousands of gallons of water in the past two years, and it needs two new heaters, and the antiquated chlorine system to sanitize the water needs work. You state that only eight to twelve percent of the public use the pool, and it could cost well one million dollars to fix the problems up there. We need to sell this place to a private owner.
The Health Center should have been privatized years ago, how did previous elected officials ever think that someday that place would not pull them into a financial pit that it has?
Finally for the 911 Center, I have through the years attended many public meetings and heard with my own ears the amount spent on constructing the new building for 911, and to fix the “broken radio system” that seems to still be broken.
We spent close to twenty million dollars on this project, and what do we have to show for it? Also, who was the construction manager for that building?
I was out there recently, and was surprised to find that it was built with what seems the ability to someday maybe add offices on the second level. But no, instead it was built with ceilings almost thirty feet high, what a waste of dead, unusable space.
Additionally, who designed the radio system, why did we have to build so many new towers when there are already so many in the county we could have put our antennas on? Also, what happened at 911 that we are now involved in a sexual harassment lawsuit with a former employee, and why are we stuck paying the bill to defend a case which was probably deeply rooted to a management problem.
I think the three of you need to look closer at who you have “driving the bus” out there, the Belmont Complex, and the Health Center. We taxpayers have towed the line too long, and can no longer afford to do so.
I realize the need to occasionally raise taxes, but seventeen percent just to potentially further support projects that are no longer feasible? The three of you made great election promises, let’s seem you put them in action.