SPLASH PAD AT CITY PARK

Possible more fun in the Sun.

A proposal to allocate unallocated Local Option Tax (LOT) money from previous years to fund construction of a Splash Pad at City Park was brought before the January 6 meeting of the Salmon City Council. There would be a stipulation that construction begin by June of 2022. The unallocated funding amounts to $73,000. There would be grant applications filed for the rest of the cost of the pad.

City Administrator Emery Penner said the water feature would consist of a 2400 square foot concrete pad with plumbing that would shoot water out of cannons and fountains.

Councilor Robin Phillips said that some constituents had told her they would rather see the money go to putting a bubble over the swimming pool so the pool could be open for an extended amount of time or, use the money to fund the pool being open for more days in the regular swimming pool season.

City Clerk Mary Benton responded with what was researched several years ago. She said at that time just the bubble cover would have cost $200,000. Added to that would be the cost of hiring employees to work there in an extended season, which would be very expensive. Benton said those extra costs would also have to be taken into consideration.

Penner said the yearly pool budget is $70,000 and the pool only takes in $30,000 which means it operates with a yearly 40 percent loss. If covered there would be heating costs in the winter as well as the cost of more equipment maintenance. With a Splash Pad there are no pumps needed because the water pressure does all the work. The pad has 17 different apparatuses installed within the pad including water cannons, waterfalls and water slides. Maintenance is very low since the water pad would be operated on a timer. Penner said the Splash Pads have proven to be very popular in other areas.

The pad was equated to kids running through a sprinkler on a hot Summer’s day.

Councilor Jim Bockelman made a motion to approve using unallocated LOT funds from the original Ordinance 09-742 for the Splash Pad.

Councilor Neal James wondered why the decision had to be made that evening. He said he’d rather see plans and some pictures and get more information before voting on whether or not to use the LOT money. Councilor Jim Baker agreed. He said he likes the Splash Pad idea but would like more information before allocating funds.

Councilor Russ Chinske asked if the overflow water could be collected and used to water the golf course or lawns and Penner said he would look into it. Councilor Fred Waidely asked what the water source would be and Penner said it would be city water and amount to half a cubic foot per second per day which the city water source could support. He said in low flow water years the flows could be adjusted.

Bockelman’s motion to approve using unallocated money from the old LOT fund was passed five to two with Chinske, Phillips, Waidely and Bockelman in favor; Baker and James opposed.

So far this year, $91,507.37 has been collected under the newly approved LOT Ordinance 19-839. The council voted unanimously to allocate that money to the March LOT allocation cycle. The upcoming cycle will award approved applicants with funding. The March funding opportunity will be advertised in the newspaper and on the radio.

Then the council, on a vote of four to two, gave City Finance Director Amy Fealko official permission to apply for a $150,000 Idaho Parks and Recreation Department Grant. It will be a year before the matching grant is awarded. Baker and James cast the two ‘no’ votes.