(Lake Park)– City leaders in Lake Park are putting a call out for those interested in serving on a steering committee to look at possible options regarding the swimming pool.
As we reported previously, new estimates from an engineer have put the cost of repairing the pool much higher than earlier thought, to the tune of at least $700,000. Preliminary estimates of replacing it with a new pool on the same footprint have come in as high as $4.5 to $5 million.
Mayor Matt Carstensen told the city council Monday that while he personally is in favor of Lake Park having some type of water attraction, funds are going to be a major driver as to what that may or may not look like…
“I just think we have to be mindful of what we start looking at and what commitments we have to make as a city.”
City Administrator Mari Mathiesen added that’s where a steering committee would come into play…
“They’ve got to be able to sit back and look at every possible solution, whether it’s one they like, one they don’t like, but I think they have to be willing to bring every possible solution to the table. And I think there’s got to be, this is my opinion, but I think there’s got to be someone who can kind of be a moderator so it is kind of driving toward all of the different solutions that are out there.”
City councilman Whitney Thiessen added it’s highly unlikely a bond issue for a pool would pass muster with voters, who just last week narrowly rejected a referendum for a new fire station/EMS facility.
City officials say they would like to see up to 10 people serve on the pool steering committee. As of Monday evening only four people had committed. Any Lake Park resident interested in serving on the committee should contact city hall as soon as possible.
Carstensen says the goal is to get the committee established within the next couple of weeks so meetings can get underway.
