New community pool top priority at Comprehensive Economic Development Steering (CEDS) meeting

DAYTON–Construction of a new community swimming pool in Dayton was the top priority of the group of concerned citizens who gathered for the Comprehensive Economic Development Steering (CEDS) meeting December 3.

The annual event puts before a group of community individuals a list of economic-development topics which are briefly amplified upon and then voted upon.

The participants numbered 61 with 45 of those voting to rank the top three community projects.

Thirteen voters–29%–listed the Dayton Pool Project as their number-one priority, according to information released by the Port of Columbia. Another seven individuals chose the pool as their second priority, and three listed it as a third priority. The pool project received a total of 56 votes, the highest of the 37 items on the list.

Housing was in the second spot. The listing was "Affordable housing/Workforce housing/Mixed Use/Apartments" and it received six first-place votes, five in second and third places, a total of 33 votes

The Touchet Valley Trail/Walking Paths/Biking Paths came in third with two individuals choosing it as their top priority, five listing trails as their second choice and seven denoting it third for a total of 23 ballots cast.

In fourth place was the topic "Education & Training/Preparing Students to Work/Skills/Workforce Training/Internships, and three voters chose it as both first and second priorities, with four naming it as a third priority.

Improve/Maintain/Expand and Retain Rail Line received 15 total votes and landed in fifth place among the 37 topics. Each No. 1 vote received three points; No. 2 vote received two points and No. 3 choice received one point.

Remaining Topics and Votes are depicted in the chart below.