One of the many things the Indoorers are pushing for is a therapy pool if an indoor pool is built at Spellerberg for the Vets;
At Tues evening’s May 14th city council meeting, during the public comment section, there was an organized effort by indoor pool supporters to cheer-lead the issue of placement of an indoor aquatic complex in Spellerberg Park. It is to be noted that none of those speakers addressed the LACK OF CLEAR TITLE regarding the land called Spellerberg Park.
One talking point made by Mr Sommervold is the inclusion of a therapy pool for veterans. Who is promising this? ACCORDING TO THE POWER POINT HANDED OUT AT THE CITY COUNCIL’S INFORMATIONAL MEETING, THERE IS NO THERAPY POOL INCLUDED IN THE NEW AQUATIC POOL PLAN from Counsilman-Hunsaker.   The power point says they are recommending option 5 (large indoor) defined as: Indoor 50 meter by 25 yard competition pool with springboard diving and separate 3750 sq ft indoor leisure pool with current channel and waterslide.
This apparently means the plan would have to be changed before the council could vote on acceptance/rejection, or someone is making empty promises to veterans. Furthermore, adding a therapy pool for veterans to option 5 will significantly increase cost above the $18M plus being suggested right now. Incidentally, this money will need to be borrowed and added to our present city debt of $398,868,664 as of December 31, 2012.
While I think this is a great idea and a nice gesture, we have to wonder if this is just a false campaign promise;
We attended the 4pm council meeting May 14th and I picked up a copy of the power point used to present the aquatic plan to the council. Option 5 below is copied from the power point. There is no therapy pool in the plan. From a bit of researching others have done, the water needs to kept much warmer (10 degrees or more) than for regular pools. Also, I have been told, there are other physical differences between a therapy pool and a regular leisure pool. Additionally there is the issue of employing therapists. A therapy pool would significantly increase the current estimated cost of the Counsilman-Hunsaker plan!
The issue is that a therapy pool is not in the plan before the city council, but it is being dangled out there as probability or even possibly a “done deal”, and you voters/veterans will need to support the current plan to help us get this accomplished.  The second part of the issue is who is the source of this talk or proposal?
So who is floating this idea? The mayor? Or the Indoorers? Either way, doesn’t matter because it is NOT in the current Indoor pool plan. I hope once the indoor pool fails at Spellerberg, the city finally awakens from their deep sleep and either builds a pool at one of the HS’s or at the Sanford Sports Complex. It is no secret who will be using a public indoor pool, people who competitively swim, so put it where it would get the best use. Duh.
l3wis 
