Commissioners, City Council and Pool Committee Discuss Pool Status

Members of the Valley County Pool Campaign committee, Glasgow City Council, including Mayor Rod Karst, all three Valley County Commissioners and resident of Hinsdale Jerry Arnold, met in the Courthouse Community Room on March 22 to continue discussions on how all three entities could potentially work together to obtain funding for a new pool in Glasgow utilizing an interlocal agreement between the city and the county. The Commissioners had met on March 9 and opposed a tax levy on county property owners for the purpose of constructing a new swimming pool in Glasgow as well as opposed the joint operation of the new pool.

Maggan Walstad, a volunteer for the Valley County Pool Campaign committee, started the meeting off discussing the numerous ways the committee had been in discussions with the Commissioners in order to allow the interlocal agreement to be a possibility.

“We just kind of need to hear from you guys because it seems like you’re shutting us down without letting people decide. There was a couple of people that were against it at the meeting but let the county decide, not a couple of people. Sometimes it feels like you have to lead and not just follow what some of the few people are saying. We’re willing to accept whatever happens if people can vote about it.” After explaining how 43 percent of kids who sign up for summer swim limits live outside of the city limits, Walstad stated “We need to work as a unison to try and get this done.”

Commissioner Fahlgren responded to Walstad stating “I think our resolution spelled out pretty much what our issues were and certainly learned the same lesson, whenever that was when the big project was planned, when I was campaigning back then, didn’t have to get outside the city limits in Glasgow to find out it was anger, real anger, about taxing ag land, tractors and combines and everything else that people have in order to fund a pool. So, I was well, well aware of that issue from that time back in 2014, or whenever that was. From me speaking, it’s a city pool.” He went on to say that if it were to be placed on a ballot, and if it were to pass, in his opinion, it would be because a large percentage of city voters would vote for it, which would outvote those voting against it within the country.

Councilman Stan Ozark retorted Fahlgren’s comments by stating “We’re residents of the county too. The County is not just outside of the City limits. I’m a resident, sure of Valley County, my vote counts just as much as Jerry Arnold. His vote shouldn’t count anymore because he lives in Hinsdale.” Fahlgren then argued that Ozark is here and can use the pool. Arnold entered the conversation stating he isn’t against having a new pool but if the entire county would be taxed, he suggested putting the names of all of the cities in a hat, shake them up and determine that way where the pool should be built.

“I need gravel on my roads. We need road system, we need infrastructure and every time Valley County gets in bed with the city of Glasgow, it doesn’t work out for us. I would say that Valley County needs to stay out of the pool business and work about graveling roads and taking care of their business and the City of Glasgow build a pool if they need it,” explained Arnold.

After discussing the use of county American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and how those funds can not be utilized to fund a pool, other potential ideas for funding were discussed. One idea that was brought up throughout the meeting was the option to reduce the overall cost.

The current cost to build the new pool is at $3.3 million with approximately $1.6 million already raised. Commissioner Armstrong stated one of the comments that she has heard frequently is the cost of the pool and the surprise that it’s so high. She brought up the recent Red Lodge pool project, who is utilizing the same engineer as the Glasgow project, Interstate Engineering, for their design. Though it was acknowledged those costs were 2020 costs and costs have gone up in the past two years, the costs of the various designs were at below two million dollars and they are expecting to have it completed in June of this year.

According to Interstate Engineering, the major differences between the Red Lodge and Glasgow pool is size. Their phase one includes a new 3,870 square foot stainless steel sidewall pool, new concrete decks, plumbing, filtration equipment and a minor mechanical room remodel for a $1.75 million construction cost. Their phase two includes a replacement of the existing fixtures in the bathhouse, a 800 square foot addition and a six feature splash deck for a construction cost of $1 million. They also pointed out these are only bids for the construction and doesn’t include fees, engineering, architectural or construction administration costs which they estimate will be another plus or minus $300,000.

The design for Glasgow is 6,080 square feet with the majority of the pool bottom being two feet deeper than what is being constructed in Red Lodge. Red Lodge is also looking at reusing their bathhouse where Glasgow’s would be replaced. There is also no street parking or drop off in Red Lodge, whereas in Glasgow a loop would be designed to allow safety in dropping off and picking up.

During the March 22 meeting, it was also stressed funding a new pool is more than just dollars and cents, as the pool helps a community. “You guys know this, it’s hard to find people to come here. It’s hard to find people to go anywhere. When you are hiring professionals…they look at things like libraries, pools, school. What do you have for my kids,” explained Councilman Ozark. “As soon as we start letting that stuff go, because we don’t want to pay for it, my kids don’t use it anymore, my kids don’t go to school anymore, I’m not voting for a levy, then we start dying as a community.”

After much back and forth between all parties, Taylor Zerbe, volunteer for the Valley County Pool Campaign, asked due to the resolution opposing the tax levy and joint operation of the pool if that means there is no chance of an interlocal agreement or if there is the ability to work through it.

Commissioner Tweten stated “For me, yes it’s over. That’s only my vote.” Commissioner Fahlgren stated “If it was just my family experience, five kids that were in swim team and had lessons there…..I think the dollars there, that three million dollars seems awful high. Red Lodge can do it for under two million. I don’t want to say absolutely never.” Commissioner Armstrong stated her position is “There are a lot of guesses, the liability and a lot of this may not have been researched as far as it needs to. So, my position would be, I’m not excited and it’s hard for me to accept the property. If there was a way to eliminate the liability the county would have in this agreement. If there was more detail about, this is what we’re looking at as an interlocal agreement, it would require this and there was more specificity about things…I’m receptive to considering more detail in your proposal. I’m receptive to listening to see if there are solutions that would take the county out of the liability associated with the pool.”

After the hour and a half meeting, it was decided to keep the dialogue going between the Committee, Commissioners and City Council, as well as the appropriate legal council, to address the concerns that were brought up by the Commissioners. At press time another meeting between the City Council, County Commissioners and Pool Committee had not yet been scheduled.