The fate of a potential swimming pool hangs in the balance for the community of Sargent and its voters for the third time. Ballots that were received by voters are due back to the Custer County Clerk’s office by 5 PM Tuesday (July 15).
The bond election, which was approved for a vote back in April, which is for an amount not to exceed $4 million to finance the construction and equipping of a new municipal swimming pool, calls for a simple “for” or “against” selection. The city’s current pool last operated in 2024 and the NDEE operating permit issued after temporary piping was installed in 2022 has expired, meaning no swimming in Sargent until improvements or a new pool are implemented.
Custer County Clerk Connie Gracey told KCNI/KBBN that a post-marked date is not sufficient and that the ballots being returned need to be in the hands of the Clerk’s office by 5 PM on Tuesday. She said that the drop box outside of the courthouse building in Broken Bow is an option available, in addition to a ballot box at the office inside.
This is the third vote on whether or not a pool is in the future for Sargent. In a special election in 2023, 129 residents voted against a pool while 70 voted in favor. As a part of the general election in 2024, more voters (54) participated and the vote was much closer coming to 125 FOR and 128 AGAINST.
The subject brought together a packed room for an August 2024 City Council meeting, which saw plenty of passionate discussion and concerned question-answering. The bond’s potential impact on the Nebraska Homestead Exemption program was one main topic of discussion at that meeting.
“However you qualify under the act right now, that flows through to the city’s assessed valuation. So, when the bond is issued it’s issued against the city’s assessed valuation; so all the tax dollars that they receive on that valuation, you know, that’s the same, that levy is going to be against their valuation currently. So, yeah, it wouldn’t change anything,” said a Northland Securities representative at the meeting.
Discussions regarding questions and concerns have continued with heightened frequency as the ballot due date approached, many centered on whether there are other issues the city and its citizens should point their money toward before a pool. KCNI/KBBN sent messages and replies to those who appeared to be opposed to the bond or sent messages first, asking for a statement or interview for more perspective. Those messages either went unanswered or the respondents stated they would rather not give a response if they could not remain anonymous.
In a statement, Sargent Pool Committee member Jinger Larsen first gave a reminder of the now-closed Sargent pool’s beginnings.
“Many people may not know that our original pool was built in 1960 after a child tragically drowned,” said Larsen, “Our community came together then to create a safe place where children could learn to swim and enjoy the water without fear. For over 60 years, that pool has been a place where kids learned important life skills, made memories, and grew up together.”
Larsen urged the community to make their voice heard by returning their ballots.
“Passing this bond is our only path forward. A new pool will continue the legacy of safety and community that began decades ago. It’s an investment in our children, our families, and the future of our town.”
Some on both sides of the bond election debate have agreed that discussion and speaking up (even when fueled by disagreement) can aid in everyone feeling like they are making the most informed decision possible.
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The results of the bond vote will be shared on SandhillsExpress.com as soon as they are available.
A sample ballot can be viewed here: Sargent Pool special bond sample ballot
