PORT TOWNSEND — Before they float $5,000 to keep Mountain View Pool open until year’s end, Jefferson County commissioners have directed their new administrator, Philip Morley, to discuss the matter with city, school, hospital and pool users.
“We want to be cautious on it as to committing ourselves. And the fact that there are other recreational issues [the county is facing],” said County Commissioner John Austin, D-Port Ludlow.
The commissioners’ consideration of the $5,000 request came after a group of more than 20 filled the commissioners’ chambers on Monday, asking for the county’s $5,000 share to keep the pool operating through the end of this year.
The group, Fantastic 50 Friends of Mountain View Pool, has 50 donors willing to chip in $100 each to help pay the pool’s heating costs until Dec. 31, it says.
The city of Port Townsend has challenged the county, Jefferson Healthcare hospital, Port Townsend School District and Make Waves! — the group promoting development of an aquatic recreation center — to each donate $5,000 to pay the anticipated $30,000 heating bill through year’s end.
While the county commissioners have not yet committed, the school district tentatively supports its share.
“I wanted to make sure it’s a real partnership,” said County Commissioner Phil Johnson, D-Port Townsend, adding he also wanted the county to look at a parks and recreation joint venture.
“I think the pool is extremely important,” Johnson said.
Pool users’ plea
Several pool users pleaded for the county commissioners’ financial support of the pool during their meeting Monday at the county courthouse.
Karen Nelson said the Fantastic 50 for Mountain View Pool effort was separate from Make Waves!, which has proposed building an aquatic recreation center on land owned by Jefferson Transit and Kah Tai Lagoon Nature Park, owned by the Port of Port Townsend.
In a letter to the commissioners, Nelson said the pool had more than 2,500 users, not including the Port Townsend School District swim team’s practices.
She said about 25 percent of users live outside the city limit.
Among those supporting the county donating $5,000 Monday was Cliff Wood, a 78-year-old Port Townsend resident who uses the pool three times a week.
“I don’t go to the doctor. I don’t take pills,” Wood said.
“All my friends are dying off because they don’t exercise.
“I encourage you to keep that pool alive and keep us alive.”
Carole Curtis, a Port Hadlock resident, also urged the donation, saying she and her husband use the pool routinely.
Mona Stefflre of Port Townsend also encouraged pool funding, as did Herbie Hicks, who said as a lifeguard he has learned firsthand the importance of children learning to swim in a maritime community.
“It is an essential service to this community,” he said, adding that with a bad hip, “I would be in a wheelchair right now if it weren’t for that pool.”
Earl Murman, one of the Fantastic 50 to donate $100, said he fears that if the pool closes this year, “my concern is it will never reopen.”
The county quit funding the pool in the mid-1990s, and in recent years the city has operated the pool housed at Mountain View Elementary School, 1919 Blaine St., which is owned by the school district.
The city is responsible for the funds to keep the pool running, but any bills from utility companies go directly to the school.
The current agreement has the city paying for up to $72,000 of the pool’s operating costs each year. Anything over that is paid by the school district.
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Port Townsend-Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com
