Supporters wanting to put an indoor aquatic center back onto a property tax election ballot in November failed to sway Maumelle City Council members to revive the issue Monday night.
The City Council on July 7 removed the $7.65 million indoor aquatic center from a proposed election ballot that would have asked voters to extend the city's 6.6-mill property tax rate to pay for three bond projects. Reconsideration would have taken one of the six aldermen who voted to remove it to bring the item back before the council.
None did, sinking the indoor pool idea for probably a couple of years.
Alderman Jan Hogue called the council's decision "a disservice to the citizens of Maumelle to disallow them a vote."
"To me," Hogue added, "that's a cop-out."
The City Council is expected to call the election at its next meeting with three remaining capital improvement bond projects on the ballot: A $4.46 million replacement for the city's Senior Wellness Center, $2.6 million in renovations to City Hall and $1.05 million for softball and T-ball fields.
Maumelle voters approved extending the property rate for eight years in a 2012 election.
The cost for operating an indoor pool would have required a city sales tax increase, Mayor Mike Watson said. The council also had removed the sales tax question at its last meeting. Watson has estimated that the city would need $450,000 annually to operate and maintain an indoor pool.
"Every indoor pool we looked at had a tax to support it," said Watson, referring to city staff research on costs for an aquatic center's operation. "It was very clear that if the tax didn't pass there was no way the pool could go forward."
Pool supporters had sent emails to the mayor and aldermen over the past two weeks, Watson said, to request the indoor pool be left up to city voters. The three residents who spoke for the indoor pool Monday night made the same request.
"I think it's hypocritical of [aldermen] to tell me, a registered voter, that I can't vote on something," Phil Griffey told the council, adding that an indoor pool would be beneficial to those who need water therapy for health reasons.
Sayra Crandall also touted the benefits of having a year-round pool, citing health statistics that show 66.3 percent of Arkansans are overweight.
"It would be a true health benefit for the community," Crandall said. "We need the opportunity to vote on this. Let the people who don't want it tell you that they don't want it."
An indoor pool also would be beneficial to the Maumelle Marlins youth swimming team, which competes against other teams that have a year-round facility. Marlins members and parents were at a season-end activity and did not attend.
"All we are asking is for the right to vote," Roy Andrews said.
Former Alderman Doug Ladner said that residents don't understand how the City Council goes through a budget process each year, having to decide what the city can and can't afford.
"I'm for an indoor pool if the city can afford it," Ladner said. "I think you've got to make sure you can come up with that $400,000 before you bring this back up. If the tax fails and the pool doesn't, you still have the same dilemma."
Alderman Preston Lewis said a city survey that showed 41 percent support for the aquatic center didn't demonstrate enough enthusiasm to place it on the ballot.
"It has to be something the community as a whole can buy into," said Lewis, adding that it's futile to argue that the indoor pool would be a "moneymaker."
Alderman Burch Johnson told pool supporters to keep trying.
"This is not the end of the world," he said.
But Watson said he doubts another refinancing of the city's bonds would be feasible for at least two years.
Metro on 07/22/2014