Pool feasibility study: Whitson carpark site is feasible location

Wellman further noted he is working on the final report, which will include a detailed financial breakdown of the costs associated with building and operating a pool. He advised the council he was also awaiting information from the Pool Committee from a community workshop held last month to look at potential pool designs.

But Wellman also looked to tamp down expectations, saying, “This is a feasibility study. We have gotten to the point where we can say the site is feasible. [But] this study will not include a design. That’s a separate study.”

He added, “The biggest issue will be taking the budget information and moving ahead with the effort to build support for the financial plan.”

City officials have until June 2 now to submit a completed application to the state Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) for a $500,000 grant to help pay for building a new pool. RCO agreed to extend the deadline a second time, from May 12.

At the old pool, it’ll be business as usual in 2016. The pool is being prepped by Public Works employees for the upcoming swim season.

Wellman advised the council of another wrinkle in the study and application process. He said city officials learned about two weeks ago that the city owns the pool property it has been leasing from the White Salmon Valley School District. The School Board deeded the property to the city years ago — a fact that went undetected until the city ordered a title search.

City Adminstrator Pat Munyan had been working on a lease agreement with the School District for a portion of the Whitson carpark site to demonstrate to RCO, as a grant condition, that it had tied up the land for a lengthy term.

Now, as a result of the finding, said Wellman, “We might be looking at a land swap.”

As a final note to his update, Wellman told the council he recently met with funders of the pool study and potential donors to a pool project. He heard from them a desire “to expand the project to include a youth center,” which would require applying for another grant.