Committee debates joint venture request; members reluctant to add new kiddie pool without funding commitments

Staff said the village had received a request from Rothschild and Schofield to explore a joint venture that could include adding a smaller pool or shallow play feature at the municipal aquatic center. Staff said they do not yet have a cost estimate because the effort would require a request for bids to determine mechanical, filtration and construction costs and because multiple variables — including whether filtration would be shared with the main pool — are unresolved.

Committee members voiced concerns about adding a new pool without clear funding commitments from Rothschild and Schofield. One member said Rothschild’s recent pool revenues appeared to have declined and questioned whether additional capital and operating costs would be sustainable; another said the village should not use taxpayer dollars to add a separate kiddie pool unless outside communities provided money and maintenance support. Several members said they would be open to a joint venture if the partner communities "had skin in the game" by funding construction and contributing to ongoing maintenance, but they opposed unilateral village funding of the new pool. Staff said any addition should be considered in the context of a broader pool remodeling rather than as a stand‑alone project to avoid inequity in shared costs. No motion was made to proceed; staff said they will return with a rough cost estimate and suggested next steps for seeking partner commitments and, if appropriate, a request for proposals.