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South Charleston swim pool will talk finances March 24
(by Kristy Zurbrick, Madison Editor - February 23, 2010)
For many community swimming pools, expenses outpace revenues. Such is the case in South Charleston. While some area pools won’t open this summer, South Charleston’s will, but barely.
“We run in deficit spending. To do so, we got a loan to carry us over to this year,” said Shawn Jackson, a member of the Community Recreation Commission, the non-profit that runs South Charleston’s pool.
The commission wants to reverse course and get out of the red. They have called a meeting of the minds, inviting civic, business and government leaders to brainstorm on revenue sources and a five- to 10-year capital campaign for a new facility.
The meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. March 24 at Houston Library, 5 W. Jamestown St., and is open to the public.
With input from and collaboration with private and public entities, the commission plans to go after grants. They are tapping into services that provide free legal and grant-writing assistance, pursuing 501(c)3 status, and organizing fund-raisers, including a 5-K run.
Over the last few years, the pool’s membership and daily attendance rates have remained fairly steady, but expenses have gone up, Jackson said.
The commission spends about $40,000 annually to run the pool and takes in about $33,000. Expenses include salaries, utilities, sales tax, income tax, property tax, workers comp and liability insurance. The chemical costs alone are “outrageous,” Jackson said.
The commission keeps trucking on, though, because they want to serve the community.
“In a small town like South Charleston, we want recreation activities that kids can walk or ride their bikes to,” Jackson said. “The pool gives them a supervised place to be, close to home.”
In addition to Jackson, the commission’s board members are John Alduino, Jackie Gray, Sandy Harbour, Jennifer Routzahn and Wendy Russell.
For a pool membership application and information, visit Houson Library, go to the Village of South Charleston Web site at http://villageofsouthcharleston.net, or call Sandy Harbour at (937) 462-7340 or Wendy Russell at 462-9137. Regular membership fees are $130 for the first member and $30 for each additional family member.
The pool is located at 208 E. Columbus Road.
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