HomeMy WebLinkAbout020225 email - Ideas on the pool_ etc_ALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
Dear Commissioners Eisenhour, Brotherton, and Dudley-Nolette,
In response to last weeks BOCC meeting and in regards to the letter that I sent to you all, but specifically sent to Commissioner Brotherton, I thought that the response made by Commissioner
Brotherton regarding the written and oral comments made by members of the public addressing the inappropriate comments that he had directed toward Shellie Yarnell was somewhat weak
and, if there was an apaulogy, it was filled with defensive explanation, thus not very sincere at all. I totally get that you all, as commissioners, have as much right to comment on
issues, as you are obviously members of the public and affected by whatever issue may be at hand. But, you must also recognize that you have a "bully pulpit", and can therefore potentially
sway and direct public opinion in ways that are more favorable to your agendas, and that, we as the public, typically only get to voice our concerns on in 2-3 minute bursts, or through
letters and emails that you are only likely to read. I wish that a more sincere apology could have been expressed by Commissioner Brotherton, but in lieu of the response he did give,
maybe a more productive and respectful path forward will be taken by him.
Regarding the pool progress, yes, it is exciting to have a mid-county site selected. It was a site that before any of the extended levels of analysis had taken place that I had recommended
should this level of review be taken and steered away from the Mountain View options. It is nice to think that maybe somebody was listening. With this step, it is my understanding the
applications for funding for preliminary and budgetary design for the entire Chimicum Creek Elementary site can take place, possibly leading towards a design review for public consumption.
Again, this seems to be an appropriate next step.
Looking toward the future, and how all of these mid-county new aquatic center ideas may evolve, I feel that some underlying issues need to be addressed. These issues are somewhat complicated,
as they are intergovernmental in nature. For construction, operational, and maintenance related success, the proposed new mid-county aquatic center must not be clouded with the elements
of the Mountain View Pool's future and existence. It seems logical to assume, and as it has been explained by the JAC, if a new mid-county aquatic center becomes a reality, the Mountain
View Pool will be decommissioned and will cease to function at all. I firmly believe that Jefferson County, and specifically a potentially newly formed PFD, should draft a MOU between
Jefferson County (the PFD), the City of Port Townsend, and the Port Townsend School District #50, signed by all authorized representative parties, that states that the Mountain View
Pool facility will be decommissioned and will never function as a pool/ aquatic facility in perpetuity once the new mid-county aquatic facility is completed and operational. This MOU
should also protect against any third party lease arrangement opportunities that could be considered for use of the Mountain View Pool. It should be fairly obvious why this needs to
happen, so I won't get into the weeds on this issue, but this MOU needs to definitely happen.
Looking even further towards the future, when and if the Mountain View Pool facility is decommissioned, and possibly demolished/ deconstructed, no funding for the decommissioning, demolition,
deconstruction, and possible reconstruction should come from the potentially newly formed PFD, or any other source for that matter, unless the new use of the facility is related to
providing for the short, medium, and long term sheltering needs of our community's unhoused. This language could even be added to the MOU as described above. I bring this up because
at every BOCC meeting that I have attended either virtually or in person, Julia Cockran's passionate plea for assistance and support for the unhoused almost always comes up. The fundamental
issue she is continuously faced with is a lack of funding to support her efforts. The Mountain View campus would be perfectly set-up and situated for a facility that safely, effectively,
and efficiently provides for the unfortunate folks of our community that struggle with housing. Here is a link to just one example of how the Mountain View site could be transformed
to help with this important community obligation: Dignified, Scalable & Efficient Interim Housing – BOSS Cubez <https://bosscubez.com/> . There are even units with small kitchens,
though a more practical solution may be to incorporate cafeteria style meals for those who would be living on this campus. Kind of works well with the food bank there, the old Mountain
View School cafeteria, etc.
I strongly urge you to be visionaly in your approach towards not only building a practical and effective mid-county pool facility, but also for dealing with what I have felt is a much
higher priority of taking care of and providing for the most marginalized in our community. This has been my issue and position from the beginning regarding issues related to the aquatic
center discussions, in that, where does a new public pool/ aquatic center fit into the priorities that our community should be focused on. Maybe there could be some cynergy towards
dealing with both priorities at or near the same time. Maybe a program/ concept that incorporates both ideas might be more easily digestible for the voters, as it is important to remember
that nothing regarding a new-mid county pool is going to happen without voter approvals.
Thank you for your continued hard work for our community and looking forward to your response.
Mark L Grant
President
Grant Steel Buildings and Concrete Systems, Inc.
75 Haada Laas Road
Port Townsend, WA 98368
Office - 360-379-3236 <tel:360-379-3236>
Mobile - 360-301-4340 <tel:360-301-4340>
E-mail - grantsteelbuildings@gmail.com <mailto:grantsteelbuildings@gmail.com>
Web Address - grantsteelbuildingsystems.com <http://grantsteelbuildingsystems.com/>
Grant Steel Buildings and Concrete Systems, Inc is recognized as a
certified Veteran Owned Business by the State of Washington.
Grant Steel Building and Concrete Systems, Inc is recognized as an
Authorized Builder by Varco-Pruden Buildings.
ƭ