A BIG THANK YOU to Park County Voters
for PASSING THE CAP TAX!
The ballot question was approved with 6,761 votes (for)
to 4,906 (against) or 58-42 percent.
We can all look towards a bright future for Park County.
Powell’s modern aquatic facility will serve education, health, sport, safety and recreational needs of our community
with a variety of activities for all ages.
Powell Community Pool Committee Mission Statement
LATEST NEWS on the Powell Pool
On October 6, 2006, the Moyer Foundation of Powell awarded $500,000 to the endowment fund of the Powell pool to provide Operation and Maintenance funds for the life of the pool. The generous gift is contingent upon the passage of the capital facilities tax by Park County voters on November 7. The Moyer Foundation directors were unanimous in their support of the cap tax and the $500,000 gift to the pool endowment. The Moyer Foundation, created in 1987 after the death of namesake and benefactor Willard Moyer, makes selected awards in the Powell community.
The $9 million in capital facilities tax asked for the Powell pool is based on $7 million for construction and $2 million for the O & M endowment. If passed, the cap tax proceeds and the Moyer award would create a beginning endowment fund of $2.5 million that could generate approximately $120,000 of earnings annually.
The Powell City Council recently designated Veteran’s Park, located across from the Park County Fairgrounds, as the site for the new pool.
General Community Aquatic Facility Goals
- A multi-use Community Aquatic Facility that includes recreational, wellness, educational and competitive programs.
- A facility that is self-sufficient, with Operations & Maintenance (O&M) funded by user fees and an endowment fund established at the time of construction.
- A facility that is as energy efficient as possible, to reduce O&M costs.
- A facility that can accommodate more than one group at a time during peak hours and available to the public all day.
This Loveland, Colorado pool facility is similar to what is planned for Powell.
Warm Water Recreation & Wellness Pool
- 25-yard stretch pool with 5 lap swimming lanes. Pool temperature would be 86-88 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Beach entry (zero depth entry) in a warm water pool for children, seniors, and people with disabilities.
- Lap swimming lanes available even when competitive teams are practicing.
- Space for a variety of recreational and wellness programs (water aerobics).
Educational Features in Aquatic Facility
- Beach entry (zero depth entry) in warm water pool to assist beginning swimmers.
- Warm water is more comfortable for children and adults learning to swim.
- Classroom/multi-use room for instruction & shallow instructional area in warm water pool.
- Lessons can be held at the same time as competitive practices.
The Mountain View High School pool in Loveland, Colorado has many features planned for the Powell, Wyoming facility.
Competitive Swimming & Diving Features
- 8-Lane, 25-yard competitive pool that is 6 to 7 feet deep.
- Diving separate from competitive pool.
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- Diving competition can be held at the same time as swimming competition.
- Safety – divers not diving into water where swimmers are swimming.
- Divers are in and out of the water a lot. Warm water makes diving more fun.
- Diving area is separated from the lap/recreation area by a movable bulkhead.
- As much deck space as possible.
- Spectator seating on deck - where the action is.
- Coaching office and separate storage for competitive equipment.
The Powell pool building will be brick, like this Loveland, Colorado facility.
Building
- Masonry building, concrete or brick, with a steel truss and galvanized steel roof deck with high build epoxy industrial coating.
- Men’s and women’s locker rooms & separate family dressing rooms
- Could include plumbing fixtures for add-on in water “play” features.
Optional Outdoor Component
- Possible addition of outdoor pool, or at a minimum, putting in place plumbing so one could be added in the future.
You can download a brochure about the Powell pool project.
1. Why can’t we keep the current pool?
The Wyoming School Facilities Commission is no longer going to provide funds to school districts for operation and maintenance of a pool. Even if we could purchase our current pool, it has been determined to be structurally unsound; the concrete is not reinforced with steel and is showing signs of stress. The internal workings of the pool are old and not energy efficient. Even if we could keep the current facility, we would still have high maintenance and operations costs for a facility that does not meet the diverse needs of our community.
2. Why can’t the State of Wyoming pay for it out of their surplus?
The School Facilities Commission has made it clear that they will not provide funds for pools and the State Legislature has made it equally clear that they will not provide funds for construction of new community facilities. The only source of significant construction funds for a project like this is a sales tax increase.
3. Why didn’t the School District include a pool in the bond request?
Asking voters to fund the construction of a pool through a bond would have stretched the limited bonding capacity of the District, thus preventing future building projects. Furthermore, bond money cannot be used to pay for operations and maintenance. The School District would have had to take money away from other programs to keep a pool open. We can, however, use sales tax money to create an endowment to operate a new pool.
4. Why don’t we build a complete recreation center like Cody’s?
The cost to maintain a full service facility like Cody’s could be overwhelming in a town the size of Powell. Cody’s recreation center costs $1.6 million to operate each year. Building a pool now does not preclude building other facilities later.
5. What about the location?
The City Council has yet to decide on a location as there are many factors to take into consideration. To keep building costs down, we are currently looking at sites that are already owned by the city so we do not have to purchase property.
6. Why doesn’t the pool design include a water slide?
The design for the pool has not been finalized. While a small slide could be added, a large slide is cost prohibitive, both to build and to operate. Large slides require extra staff and extra insurance. Paying staff is the most expensive part of operating a pool. If major funding were to become available, the design could change to accomodate a large slide.
7. How can I help?
The Powell Pool Committee is accepting donations to pay for the cost of promoting the sales tax proposal.
You can send a check to:
Graham Jackson, treasurer
Citizens for Cap Tax II Committee PAC
128 McCullough Drive
Cody, WY 82414
And of course, vote YES on November 7!
Thank you!
