Hi-Line Sportsmen Donates $20,000 To VALCO

The Hi-Line Sportsmen recently donated $20,000 to the Valley County Community Pool Campaign to help fulfill the funding goal of $3,600,000 to build a new swimming pool in Glasgow. As of May 22, the current total raised was $3,138,479.

The Hi-Line Sportsmen wanted to donate to the cause because many of the core committee members were either born and raised in the area or moved here, becoming locals over time and are now raising families here. "To have the pool in the community growing up was such a staple for summertime fun! Just a bike ride away to spend hours swimming with your friends!," exclaimed Hi-Line Sportsmen member Jenn Jackson.

Swimming lessons and having the skill to swim is important to the Hi-Line Sportsmen due to the close proximity of creeks, rivers, ponds and lakes that area children have access to. "It made all my days at the lake camping and boating so much more enjoyable knowing I had the skills to swim! My parents didn't have to worry about me, and I didn't have to worry about my own kids. As I think any one of our members with children would agree with. I wasn't a lifeguard, so I can't comment on that, but I feel having the jobs available for local students is a very important life lesson," stated Jackson.

Jackson hopes this funding will spur further community support in order to have a pool built as quickly as possible for future generations to learn the skill of swimming and being comfortable in the water.

During the regular City Council meeting on May 22, the City Council considered the recommendation brought by the Valley County Community Pool Campaign to award the construction project to Corland Construction in the amount of $2,787,578,78. The bid included a concrete pool with the PVC line.

The motion was made by Councilwoman Lisa Koski and seconded by Dan Carr. With further information provided on where the committee is with funding and timing, the full council was in consensus to move forward with the signing of the contract for Corland Construction to start. "Yay progress!" exclaimed Mayor Rod Karst.

The hope is that once the contract is signed, Corland Construction is able to start demolition of the current pool this summer and order the necessary supplies to start construction next year, 2024.

This construction will only be the pool itself, as additional funds will be needed to be raised by the Valley County Pool Campaign to redo the bathhouse. The hope with this stage of the project is that local contractors will be able to assist with the construction.