By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
Those who spoke at a public hearing on whether to form
a special service district for recreation, spoke in favor of
the proposal.
There were 45 residents who attended the hearing and
17 of those voiced an opinion, mostly in favor of forming
such a district.
County Commissioners affirmed that they were not
holding a public hearing in order to push formation of a
recreation district on residents of the county but were
hoping, rather, to gain public comment on the proposal.
"We want to put the idea on the table for
consideration," said Neil Cook, commission chairman. "Our
intent is to get public input and, then, put it on the
ballot for a vote."
"We will not increase taxes unless voters approve,"
said Cook.
Since Eureka City officials have expressed the opinion
that they would like Eureka to be included if such a
district is formed, the boundaries for the recreation
district have been drawn to include the vicinity of Eureka
up to, and including, Tintic Junction on the south of
key-shaped Juab County.
The rest of the West Desert communities, such as
Partoun, Callao and Granite Ranch, have been excluded.
Jackie Rassmussen, Mona, said she favored the creation
of a recreation district and the construction of a
year-round swimming pool by that district.
She and a friend, for health reasons, traveled for
approximately one year to a Utah County facility in order to
swim. In her opinion, it would be beneficial to all to have
a local pool that would be open during all seasons.
There could even be a swim team for the youth. "If you
have good things for kids to do, they do good things," said
Rassmussen.
Diane Bills called to attention the fact that a pool
was once housed in the now county building. That pool was
filled in with gravel when it began leaking.
Roy Ward said that, as a boy scout leader, he had
taken his boys to Snow College so they could qualify for a
swimming merit badge and, while there he had seen senior
citizens with life jackets doing aerobic activities in the
pool.
Swimming activities were beneficial to all age
groups.
He thought economic development funds, CIB grants and
loans and other funds could be found to help off-set
costs.
"We could develop the pool in conjunction with the
school district," said Ward.
He did not think the county should compete with
private enterprise, but thought the county should go for a
recreation district and for a swimming pool.
Marilyn Brown, however, said she had objections to
building a pool in conjunction with the school district.
"In every town where I have ever seen them become
involved, it has become a school thing," said Brown.
She would be willing to pay an increase in taxes to
have a pool, she said.
"If it turns out to be a money issue, we can start out
small," said Brown. "It will take $2 to $3 million to build
a pool."
The real expense in building a pool is not just in the
construction but it mostly in the cost of maintenance said
Neil Cook, commission chairman.
Joyce Bracken said that she had been grateful for the
time she had been allowed by Val Jones, commissioner, to use
a pool at a motel he owned until he sold the facility.
However,as a senior, she found she regressed every three
days she was not able to swim.
"The only way to be pain-free is to go to a pool," she
said.
Other communities had good year-around pools, which
she had visited, which were also affordable. Having a pool
would also be good for the youth because they could be on
swim teams. Now they had that opportunity only two and a
half months.
Jones said that there were 56 women who swam in his
motel pool during the time he opened the motel pool to those
who needed to use it.
Jack Robu said that in 1981 he and Fenton Broadhead,
then a coach at the high school, had worked to get a
year-round pool for the community. They had failed.
"Why can't the county, the city, the school and the
churches pool their resources and get a pool built?" he
asked.
Jones said his brother, Mike Jones who is on the Nephi
City Council, told him that the city loses money on the
pool. He would like to see a recreation center built, said
Jones, but wondered about the feasibility and also wondered
if the present pool could be converted to a year-around
facility.
"Pools can be horrendously expensive," said Ward who
wondered if the commission had considered becoming involved
with the YMCA program. "They have been a partner in other
areas."
Chad Brough, Nephi City mayor, said the meeting was
informative. "I am hearing a lot of things I have never
heard before."
For one thing, he said, he had always thought a
district would be formed to build a recreation center where
there was more than a pool.
"You can have anything you want," he said.
He explained that the maximum a special service
district could charge, by law, was .0008. That would bring
in, at current property values, approximately $400,000.
The fire district was getting .0008. "Did anybody see
it on their tax bill? Did anybody take a hit?" he asked.
On a $130,000 home, said Cook, the tax would come to
$60 or $70 more per year. Large businesses would notice the
increase more than residential homes and that was why it was
important to listen to business owners.
Another point, he said, was that kids did have things
to do in Nephi. "I have six kids, and my kids don't struggle
for anything to do."
A couple of decades ago, there was a movie theater and
a bowling alley. However, those things took up a couple of
hours a week if each kid went once a week.
There are currently 900 kids going through the Old Gym
Recreation facility in organized sports. In addition, there
are men, women and co-ed groups who play ball.
Troy Catoor, who owns a private recreation and
work-out facility in Nephi, said he had wanted to build a
pool. "Everybody said, 'A pool will break you,'" said
Catoor. "It would be there if there were the support for
it."
He had bids, had it chalked out, found out the huge
insurance costs, and taking it all into consideration,
determined not to build.
He said he had hired a personal trainer to help people
so they could improve physically.
Catoor said he had weight equipment that could be used
at the users convenience. He also would be willing to do a
gymnastics program.
Catoor said private enterprise needed to be encourage
because businesses were dying in Nephi. In addition,
businesses were taxed more than residents.
"There has been a lot of discussion about a pool,"
said Cook. "A recreation district is about a lot more than a
pool."
To date, Nephi City has done it all. "If everybody
would come together, we could run all of the recreation
programs."
"I remember when Nephi City pushed the present pool
through," said Tom Howard. "I was around nine years old. The
city talked about a pool roof then."
This year, said Howard, there were 1,000 who played
baseball. The baseball complex is built on school district
property and may not always be available.
"Last year, Superintendent (Kirk) Wright, would not
let us use school facilities for Jr. Jazz," said Howard.
That meant that kids only had 45 minutes a week to learn
basketball skills.
He had also been involved in football for pre-high
school age students. "This is the only area I know about
that will not allow young kids to play football on the high
school field," said Howard. "We have one of the best
facilities but we were allowed to use them for only two
games."
Dwayne Bracken said he had suggested to then Mayor Ed
Winn, that the swimming pool be covered."I just can't
believe that we can't all get together," he said. A
committee will be appointed if a recreation district becomes
a taxing entity. That board, said Bracken, should include
members of the community city councils, county commissioners
and members of the school board.
"For many people, a pool is a medical must," said
Bracken.
"My first love is the swimming pool," said Jill Mace,
pool manager. "I have been there for 16 years."
However, she said, she did not think it was wise to
put a top over the present swimming pool. She questioned
whether the old pool would be structurally sound enough to
allow a roof.
If the commission is looking for a good example, she
said, the Delta swimming pool is an excellent example of
success. There are programs for many ages. Swimming is an
activity for everyone from 6 months to 80 plus years old.
Bill Motes said he was working with Sunrise
Engineering when they put together a recreation plan for
Nephi City. He was not certain what had happened to the
study. In his estimation, the hardest part of utilizing any
plan is for there to be agreement on what needs to be
done.
As for funds, he said, he still believed there was
grant money out there. Nevertheless, what should be done is
for the district to build what they could afford to maintain
and then work backward from there.
The ball needed to be kept rolling, he said. "It is
really easy to start something but it is hard to finish."
For that reason, everyone needed to unite and work
together.
Betty Hayborne and a group of her friends did start
pushing for a recreation district as Citizens for
Recreation, she said. "My goal is not to be a little
gray-haired lady before it is finished."
She had needed back surgery and swimming was needed to
help her recovery. In addition, she thought kids did need
wholesome activities. Kids who participate in swimming are
worn out at night and are home in bed rather than out at
night.
Lynn Boswell said the current seasonal municipal pool
had outlived its usefulness and could be turned into
something else but it should not remain a pool. He suggested
a recreation center be built.
Heber Memmott said that in 1950, St George decided to
build a race track. That was done with volunteer labor. "In
two weekends Dixie Downs was built," he said. The county,
when the project was bid, needed to get a contractor who
would let volunteers help to keep costs down.
Memmott remembered when there had been a swimming pool
where the Old Gym Recreation Center is now built.
There are community programs, he said. His wife
teaches a 30-minute exercise program at the county center.
There are all kinds of ball fields. A pool that could be
used all year around is needed, he said.
He suggested someone should talk to the school board.
"We own the school district, they don't own us," he said.
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