By CHARITY B. SMITH
Sunday Times Newspapers
MELVINDALE — Residents began a formal discussion Sept. 28 on opening the city’s pool for the 2016 season.
The pool, which sits cater corner from City Hall, has not been used since 2013. The city closed the pool due to finances and upkeep issues for the 2014 season and it has remained closed.
“I was probably the only one that said no when they decided to close it,” Councilwoman Kalley Hess said.
Residents would like to see it reopened in 2016 and are discussing ways to finance the repairs and costs necessary to maintain the pool. Residents are discussing fundraising possibilities for the pool repair and upkeep costs.
Items discussed included offering aerobics, CPR and lifeguard classes; posting banners to be displayed on the fence of the pool area; and having birthday and other organized gatherings there.
They are waiting to find out what exactly is wrong with the pool and how long it will take to be fixed.
“Our biggest hurdle is getting people such as yourselves to take it on,” Hess said to the group of residents who had come to discuss the pool situation.
Residents will meet with Hess and Mayor Stacy Striz at 6 p.m. Oct 5 to further discuss the pool situation and are hoping to bring the topic up for discussion at the Oct. 7 City Council meeting.
(Charity B. Smith can be reached at [email protected])