When Winamac Pool Committee members met with the Town Council this week, they shared some of the reasons they’re so motivated to bring a pool back into town.
In addition to providing a recreational place for people of all ages, those backing the pool project feel it could be an amenity that would keep residents from moving and bring more people into Winamac.
They said another main focus of theirs is safety. Pool Committee Founder Judy Heater shared a story about how the first pool was built after a young man passed away swimming in the river. They’re hoping to be able to prevent any future tragedies by re-opening what they consider to be a safer swimming alternative.
The council members who were present emphasized that they’re not opposed to a pool but noted they can’t back it until there’s evidence that there would be money in place to build it and feasibly run it for years to come.
Heater mentioned the contributions that are currently being stored at the Pulaski County Community Foundation which amount to approximately $149,145.
She also highlighted the fact that revenue could be gained from entry fees at the pool and said they’d also be able to bring in money by allowing different types of events to be hosted there.
Heater explained that the committee is hoping that with the town’s support, they could utilize the park board in order to apply for a DNR Grant that would be worth $200,000.
The grant requires a 50/50 match and town officials claim there is some uncertainty surrounding whether the funds in the Community Foundation could be utilized as match money.
While the potential pledge of $150,000 from the Town could possibly be used for that purpose, it’s important to note that town officials have reported in the past that the pledge will not be provided because support was revoked. However, Heater claims the pledge is binding and the pool committee is still incorporating those promised funds into their projections.
The grant application is not due until June 1st so there is still some planning and possible fundraising that could be done in the meantime.
Discussions with the Town Council will continue as Pool Committee members have been asked to present more figures related to long-term maintenance before any decisions are made regarding town support.
