Pool board talks grants, levy and voter campaigns

DAYTON–The Parks and Rec District Commissioners met to work on the upcoming levy and grant opportunities at a work session on August 15.

The commissioners are currently writing a grant application to Blue Mountain Foundation Discretionary Grant which the award is up to $20,000. Commissioners Terry Hessler and Katie Leid are working on this application. The board will need to approve the application before they can send it in. Their next board meeting is August 29 which is the same date the application is due. A decision on this grant is expected sometime in November.

Currently one of the biggest obstacles to overcome that affects the budget and timeline of the pool project is having an engineer inspect the site of the old pool and let the commissioners know if they can use the existing property to rebuild on. If the current site is not usable the commissioner will have to budget and fundraise for property, a pump house, a bath house, as well as a new pool. The board chair received a contract from Budinger and Associates to do this work. The estimated cost for the engineer is between $11,000-$18,000. The commissioners plan to ask the Friends of the Pool, the Dayton City Council, and the Columbia County Commissioners if they are willing to help fund this part of the project so that they can move forward.

The commissioners are planning to ask for voter approval on their first levy on the November ballot. During the process, McKinley learned as a municipal entity, they cannot advertise for voter approval. Instead, organizations such as Columbia County Conservatives (CCC), Neighbors for Progress (NUP), and Friends of the Pool, or individuals can take on the task of advertising, yard signs, and other material promoting approval. They also discussed including a postcard mailer to get information about district progress and need to the voters. The board will consider using social media, presenting to groups and organizations around the county, and possibility of a public forum set up as a Q&A.

The commissioners discussed the need to write a Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion (DEI) policy. Although the district has no employees yet, it will be necessary to have one in place or presently working toward achievement of one to meet some grant requirements.