The community swim survey

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FROM a South DaCola foot soldier;

I thought you might be interested to know I received a call on my home phone for a poll regarding the pool issue.  It took several minutes to answer all the questions and they were testing a lot of messages about the voting “no” on the outdoor pool.  They also asked about the mayors race.  At a lighthearted point in the conversation, the person taking the poll told me she was a Republican working for the Democrats.

First, they asked some basic questions such as:

• Do you plan to vote in the April election?

• Do you think the city is on the right track or wrong track?

• Do you have favorable opinions about Huether?

• Do you have favorable opinions about Jamison?

• Do you plan to vote for Jamison or Huether?

Next, they asked if the following statements would make you more likely, less likely, or have no impact on your decision to support an indoor pool at Spellerberg Park

• There is a lot of congestion at the intersection of 26th & Western

• The indoor pool will be a large facility and take up a lot of room at Spellerberg Park

• Sioux Falls needs an outdoor pool and if we do not approve it this time, it will not be built for several years

• The VA is next to Spellerberg Park and parking at the facility is congested

• Congestion near Spellerberg Park would decrease with an indoor facility

• Congestion near Spellerberg Park would increase with an outdoor pool

• Sioux Falls already has several outdoor pools but does not have an public indoor facility

• The money for an outdoor pool has already been allocated in the budget

• An indoor facility will add $13M to the city’s debt

• Sioux Falls should provide recreation activities for the public’s use

I was not able to write down the questions as they were being asked so this is my best recollection of the questions. I will keep thinking about it and let you know if I come up with any more.

Posted in: Sioux Falls, Sioux Falls Parks and Rec

7 Thoughts on “The community swim survey”

  1. Taxpayer-Voter on February 15, 2014 at 12:04 pm said:

    I would think the Democrats have enough problems without involving themselves in swimming pool debates!

  2. l3wis on February 15, 2014 at 12:37 pm said:

    Who are the Democrats?

  3. pathloss on February 15, 2014 at 5:17 pm said:

    To much Huether or Jamison. Build the pool so the VA can take it over for veterans therapy? The city doesn’t own the land. Taxpayers can’t control if it’s to be built. That’s decided, we didn’t vote. Huether forcably dictated it. However, build it on city land somewhere near a community where there are children who can use it.

  4. AL Reader on February 17, 2014 at 1:20 pm said:

    See today’s HEARD IN THE HALL blog @ argusleader.com

    Indoor pool supporters take to the phones

    Since last week, Sioux Falls voters have been getting calls asking their stance on indoor and outdoor pools.

    Indoor pool supporters commissioned the survey under the registered group Community Swim 365.

    The idea, said Community Swim Chairwoman Margaret Sumption, “is to help frame the information and help voters understand why they should vote no on April 8.”

    This poll must be funded by the $125,000 Community Swim 365 Co-Chair Margaret Sumption told Patrick Lalley (on ‘100 Eyes’) the group intends to raise. She went on to say, This is a “grassroots” effort!!***

  5. anonymous on February 17, 2014 at 2:26 pm said:

    All information has been taken directly from the consultant’s report (see siouxfalls.org).

    Page 28: This is the scenario the consultant has recommended:

    Option 5: Large Indoor 50 meter by 25 yard competition pool with springboard diving and a separate 3,750 sq. ft. indoor leisure pool with current channel, and waterslide.

    Page 38: Capital Cost of a Large Indoor Pool

    Project Cost $18,519,000 (this has increased to 19.4m per Director of Parks and Rec, Don Kearney-Council Work Session, July 17, 2013)

    Attendance
    80,104

    Operating Costs:

    2013

    Revenue 355,823
    Expense 1,048,552
    Operating Cashflow -$692,729

    2014

    Revenue 364,598
    Expense 1,074,766
    Operating Cashflow -$710,168

    2015

    Revenue 373,483
    Expense 1,101,635
    Operating Cashflow -$728,152

    2016

    Revenue 382,477
    Expense 1,129,176
    Operating Cashflow -$746,699

    2017

    Revenue 391,582
    Expense 1,157,405
    Operating Cashflow -$765,824

    The capital cost of the indoor pool ($19.4m) will require bonding.

    According to the consultant’s numbers, the operating costs for the indoor pool for the first five years alone, will be $3,643,572.

    As a way of illustrating this number, our community could have SEVEN new neighborhood parks for the $3.6m!!

  7. mhs on February 19, 2014 at 7:16 am said:

    Swim team parents want an Olympic pool. They don’t want to pay for it, they just want it. I will never forget the president of the Pierre swim club meeting with the YMCA board when the original Pierre Y was being built in the 70’s. They demanded an 8 lane, 50 meter pool in Pierre. In Pierre! In 1978.

    Needless to say, the Y board prudently built what it could afford vs. what a very small minority, who contributed nothing to the fund drive, wanted.

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