HUBBARD Pool levy to surface again

Alternatives will be explored before a pool levy is placed on the ballot.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
HUBBARD -- It appears the board of education will try again in March to pass a levy to help fund the Hubbard Community Pool.
"It looks like we'll try again," said Superintendent James J. Herrholtz. "If it doesn't pass, we may have to close it permanently."
Earlier this month during the general election, voters rejected a 2.5-mill five-year levy by a vote of 2,500 to 1,753.
The issue would have generated about $480,000 annually to operate and maintain the pool, which the district has operated since 1975.
Facing deadline
To place the issue on the March 2 primary election ballot, the district must file with the board of elections by Dec. 18. Because of the early deadline for issues -- it is Jan. 2 for candidates -- current school board members will make the decision.
Ray Wells and Timothy F. Herberger become board members in January. Herrholtz said they will be invited to meetings at which the levy or other options are discussed.
All alternatives will be explored before voters will again be asked to approve a levy, the superintendent explained.
Herrholtz said he thinks that an anti-tax attitude and the general economy contributed to the loss.
In addition, the superintendent explained, voters might have been confused because the ballot language did not indicate the levy was to support the pool. The word pool didn't appear on the description of the issue.
District's share
The district provides $235,000 a year, or about 50 percent of what is needed, to operate and maintain the pool. The other half comes from fees, memberships and a 1-mill levy passed in 1985.
Herrholtz said the $235,000 allocated for the pool is money that can't be used for educational activities.
The pool has been closed for weekend and evening activities. The focus of the pool, he explained, is school-related activities.
Herrholtz said that fees have been raised three consecutive years. To increase them again would discourage its use and result in the loss of income from the fees.
"We have to give people another chance" to vote on it, the superintendent said.
Even if the pool were closed, it would remain a drain on school district funds.
Herrholtz said the facility would have to be maintained and heated and the roof repaired.
"It will cost money to close. You can't let it rot," he asserted.
Meeting with mayor
Meanwhile, Herrholtz has met with Mayor-elect Arthur U. Magee to discuss funding the pool.
Magee has said the pool is a community facility, suggesting there should be areawide support for it.
During a survey this summer in which 1,273 city and Hubbard Township residents responded, 51 percent said they would support a small permanent levy for repairs and operation. And 65.8 percent responded that they consider the pool a community asset.
yovich@vindy.com