By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
Nephi City needs an improved swimming pool facility,
hopefully, one that can be used year round.
Kathy Barnes told the council an improved facility was
a need because the old one was so small and crowded and
because it was not open in the fall, winter, or spring.
However, Mayor Chad Brough said that grants in
recreation were not the norm. They were not usually
available. There were, sometimes, low interest loans or
matching fund grants.
"I work at IPP power plant," said Barnes. "There they
have a big pool."
Each year, the employees association has a party at
the pool and many of the residents of Nephi travel to the
Delta location for that party. If there was a larger pool in
Nephi those workers could stay in Nephi and sponsor a party
here.
"There are many residents who would benefit from
having a larger, year-round facility," she said.
Swimming is a popular sport for many age groups and
more people appreciate having a good pool than appreciate
having a good golf course. It also has more of a potential
as family recreation than does golf.
She said that Greg Rowley, council member who works in
therapy, knows what help swimming is to those who need to
keep limber.
"I have MS and swimming helps," said Barnes.
However, in order to be of any benefit, the swimming
activity needs to be done two to three times a week.
In addition, she said, many senior citizens need a
pool to help them keep mobile longer.
In Payson, she said, a lot of residents are able to go
to a swimming pool for therapy after certain types of
surgery and it does help them recover faster.
Once motels would allow those who need to swim to use
their pools, however, that practice had been stopped and
those facilities were no longer available.
"The city could team up with the school district, with
the doctors, and with colleges to provide improved
facilities," she said.
While she knows that a new pool, which could be built
at the present site but would take up more of the ground
than at present, is expensive, she things that expense may
be somewhat mitigated by the way the water and the facility
was heated.
Perhaps solar heat could be harnessed, she said.
Natural gas might even be an option for heating the
facility.
"If Unit 3 is built (at IPP) then there may be some
funds available to help with construction of a pool," said
Barnes.
Barnes said she would like to see the council assign a
council member to assist with looking for recreation grants
to help with construction.
"In recreation there are not many grants nor much
funding available," said Brough.
The need for a larger pool had been a dilemma for the
city for many years and many councils, he said.
It was not the expense of building a pool that was
daunting, he said, but the cost of heating it once it was
built that caused heartburn for the council.
Perhaps it would be true that IPP would build another
unit and, if more workers located in Juab County as a
result, the company may be willing to help with a new pool,
he said.
|
