Tonight, Pierre’s Outdoor Pool Committee presented its plan to replace Pierre’s 90 plus-year-old outdoor public pool. The proposal includes a modern design, opportunity for private investment, and a public financing structure that utilizes retired debt payment to avoid new taxes.
"The goal of our committee was to develop a modern outdoor pool that all ages can enjoy and be fiscally responsible to taxpayers,” said Mike Mueller, Outdoor Pool Committee Co-chair. “Our plan provides a base design with a variety of features that can be added."
Under the Committee’s proposal, the City of Pierre will pay for that modern base design which includes a heated recreational pool with zero-depth entry, a heated 25-meter multipurpose pool with a diving tower, a new bath house and concession area, as well as all the infrastructure needed for operations.
According to the proposal, added features, including a lazy river, waterslide, water features for young children, and the expansion of the 25-meter pool to a 50-meter multipurpose pool, would be paid for through private fundraising.
The base plan, which puts the new pool at the location of Pierre’s current outdoor pool, has an estimated cost of $6.5 million; with all of the added features included, the estimated cost is just under $12 million.
Pierre Mayor Steve Harding says now that the Commission has seen the plan, it will start to take a closer look at financing.
“The City has recently retired debt and may redirect that debt payment into upcoming projects,” said Harding. “As we consider this proposal, we’ll consider that debt retirement, as well as other financing options.”
The Outdoor Pool Committee, did not ask the City Commission for approval to build the pool. Rather, the group asked and was granted permission to hold a series of informational sessions to answer the public’s questions. After those meetings, the Committee will come back to the Commission for further action on their proposal.
“We know the public will want to get a close look at the design and will have questions about the investment,” said Becky Burke, Committee Co-chair. “We welcome that interaction; we want people to be well educated on the proposal.”
Informational sessions are expected to be held in early March. Details will be released at a later date. In the meantime, people can find more information about the proposal by visiting cityofpierre.org and clicking on the Outdoor Pool Plan link.
In February 2018, Mayor Harding appointed a Municipal Outdoor Pool Committee. The volunteer group was tasked with developing a conceptual design to replace Pierre’s current 90 plus-year-old outdoor pool. Burbach Aquatics, a pool consulting firm, was hired by the City to facilitate the meetings and serve as a technical expert to the group.