PORT ANGELES — Clallam County has adjusted its budget for a grant that would help fund the design of an expanded William Shore Memorial Pool.
Commissioners voted 3-0 to approve the $39,960 debatable budget emergency after a public hearing Tuesday.
The action gives the board spending authority for the Opportunity Fund grant, which is contingent on the city of Port Angeles adding William Shore Memorial Pool to its comprehensive plan this summer.
A $50 budget emergency also was approved for increased dues to the Washington State Boundary Review Board.
“This just puts it in the budget,” County Administrator Jim Jones reminded the board and meeting attendees.
“If you decide to approve the spending on either one of these two [budget emergencies] at the appropriate time when it comes forward, we have the budget authority to be able to do it.”
No public testimony was given on the monthly budget emergencies.
The $39,960 grant to the junior taxing district that operates the pool has been vetted by the Opportunity Fund Advisory Board and two boards of county commissioners.
Last year’s board approved the grant request, but the money was withheld for procedural reasons under advice from the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
If approved by the current board, the grant would help pay for the final design of an estimated $10 million westward expansion of the 55-year-old aquatic center at 225 E. Fifth St.
Pool Executive Director Steve Burke has said an expansion is needed because the facility is becoming overcrowded. The pool saw a record attendance in 2016 with about 100,000 visits, Burke said in recent interview.
Among other amenities, the expansion would include new locker rooms, a warm-water exercise/therapy pool, a children’s play area, large hot tub and dry and steam saunas, according to the pool website.
Burke has said the project would create 17 jobs and bring about $4 million into the local economy.
The pool district, which voters created in 2009, has enough funding to pay for the expansion without asking voters to approve a new bond measure, Burke has said.
Construction is expected to be completed in late 2019 or 2020.
For information on William Shore Memorial Pool or its expansion plans, go to www.william shorepool.org.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsula dailynews.com.
