SARGENT, NE – Sargent City Council met for regular session Tuesday night (May 14) at the Sargent Community Center. A discussion on the swimming pool, its future, and a possible pool bond appeared as a major item on the agenda.
City Clerk Gwenda Horky indicated to Council that steps need to be taken with documents and ballot language if a bond is what was decided on. She also stated that having a decision before voters in the general election wouldn’t cost as much as having a special election.
A recent pool feasibility study conducted a study of the current facilities, a survey of residents, and future options ranging from $0 to $3.8 million. The $0 option would result in the closing of the pool due to required improvements not being completed to allow the Nebraska Department of Environment & Energy to issue an operating permit. The highest cost option would build a completely new bathhouse and a new swimming pool.
Discussion centered around the possibility of having more than one option on the ballot, allowing voters to vote “yes or no” to a renovation bond and “yes or no” to a new pool bond. City Attorney Heather Sikyta, who was appointed by Council three agenda items earlier, expressed concern with a situation that saw both decisions passing.
The board agreed with a statement brought up that the general public sentiment is that having a pool in the community is extremely important, but discussion slows or halts when talks about how to pay for it begin.
As happens with most bond discussions previous bond results, comparison of levy numbers to communities of a similar size, and project/material costs only expected to rise were brought up. A previous bond just over a year ago failed with 129 residents voting “against” a pool and 70 voting “for” a pool. General levy comparisons to other communities were met with head nods when said to be in a good place.
Ultimately, the Council decided unanimously to request a rendering of pool repairs and a rendering of a new pool from Miller & Associates. Further preparations and discussions on a direction for a bond on the ballot will continue later.
Also during Tuesday night’s meeting, Krystina Rugg informed the Council that the existing pool cleaning and draining started last week and it is almost ready to be filled. A couple of patches are needed before that can be done. Her hope is to be open by the end of May after lifeguard training is completed. Pool staff recently painted the baby pool among other preparations for the swim season. Rugg also stated that as a result of the pool survey, she hopes to accomplish additional evening hours this year depending on staff availability.
