Letters to the Editor

To the editor,

Let's call it what it is. The February 16, 2023, edition of the Dayton Chronicle ran a news article, "Official petition circulating for pool only taxing district". I read this article with great interest as I was extremely involved with the Friends of the Pool in putting forth a proposition on the November 2022 ballot to create a Columbia County Joint Metropolitan Parks and Recreation District (MPD) to facilitate the construction, maintenance and operation of a community swimming pool.

The article states the pool-only petition was put forth by an "informal group of interested parties call Just a Pool Committee." Call it what it is. The Just a Pool Committee was formed by the Columbia County Conservatives and began meeting in December 2022.

Columbia County Conservatives, this is not the time to be ashamed or sheepish in taking credit for the positive action toward a swimming pool for our community. You had absolutely no compulsion taking credit for the vehement flyer you published and mass mailed to community members, citing false and misleading information to discredit the Columbia County Joint Metropolitan Park District proposition.

Columbia County Conservatives, stand up and take credit for doing something proactive and positive for our community. Our community needs and deserves a swimming pool. I believe this could be a perfect learning opportunity for the Columbia County Conservatives to grow and learn how to work together as a team with other community members for the good of the community.

Working together as a collective group can be very challenging. There is no room for extreme political ideologies or the self-proclamation as the moral compass of the community. When working together, the best results occur when all parties listen, apply appropriate communication skills and compromise.

I was invited to attend the Columbia County Conservatives meeting February 9, 2023, to present the Friends of the Pools efforts toward creating an MPD. I did take issue with them regarding the nefarious fear mongering misinformation flyer they mailed out discrediting the proposal put forth by the Friends of the Pool.

After enduring a verbal bulling and intimidating attack by Laura Aukerman, I stated that what they are proposing is no different from the proposal the Friends of the Pool. I believe it is imperative the Columbia County Conservatives explain why their Just a Pool initiative is different. It can be as simple as admitting they did not understand the proposition by the Friends of the Pool but now have a better understanding and want to move forward with essentially the same proposal for the creation of a community pool district under their guidance.

I encourage the Columbia County Conservatives Just a Pool committee to select one of the Washington State Parks and Recreation Districts. A Parks and Recreations District would provide the solid foundation that many financial grantors would require when seeking grant dollars.

It is my hope that the Columbia County Conservatives Just a Pool Committee moves forward with the development of an initiative and proposal that follows all of the Washington State Parks and Recreation Districts RCWs. There is no room here to cherry pick RCWs that meet your beliefs or any hidden agendas. If we are going to have Just a Pool District, let's make sure it meets and follows all RCWs appropriately.

It does not matter who or what group or committee puts forth a successful proposition. What is most important is that our community is able to construct, operate and maintain a swimming pool in a sustainable manner. Every member of our community deserves the opportunity to learn the lifesaving skill of swimming. A swimming pool does not pay for its self but it does create a community.

Dianne McKinley

Dayton, Wash.