Letter: Cost to build pool could go up

Published 6:15 am Thursday, September 8, 2022

To the Editor:

I would like to share my thoughts and concerns with everyone about the swimming pool measure that will be on the November ballot.

I read in the BME that a group of people is working towards getting the same swimming pool measure on the November ballot that they put on the May primary ballot.

This group of people got an estimate to build a $6 million swimming pool about a year ago. They had $2 million. They asked for an additional $4 million bond in the May primary. It did not pass. Now they want to put the same measure on the November ballot.

Do you think that a $4 million bond will be enough to build the $6 million swimming pool?

Two things come to my mind:

(1) They did not take into consideration the 25% increase in the building materials a year later. It will be another year before the work can be done. In that time, costs may go up another 10 to 20%.

(2) Due to costs going up this next year, they may only have enough money to build part of the swimming pool.

They will be going back to the people asking for more money.

I think that this is a major mistake in their planning.

We have a lot of senior citizens living in the parks and recreation district and the Canyon City/John Day area. With the cost of everything going up, they can’t afford additional taxes.

As for the people who rent, their cost is going to go up also. Do you think that the rental owner is not going to pass this increase on to the renter?

If you think that voting “yes” for the swimming pool is a good idea, I have a friend who has some Arizona oceanfront property for sale that you may be interested in.

I think you should think twice before you vote “yes” for the swimming pool. And then vote “no” on the swimming pool measure.

Tom Sutton

John Day