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Leavenworth council clears up to $1,800 from pool fund for community splash bash as pool opening delays continue
Summary
Council members informally authorized up to $1,800 from the pool operating fund to help the Upper Valley Aquatics Boosters stage a community “splash bash” while the city works to finish repairs and open the municipal pool.
Kurt Peterson, representing the Upper Valley Aquatics Boosters, asked the Leavenworth City Council on June 24 to consider using unspent pool operating funds to help stage a community “splash bash” while the municipal pool remains closed.
Peterson told the council the boosters expect roughly $1,650 in expenses for food, prizes, tables and incidentals and asked the council to consider deferring some unspent lifeguard or other pool-line budget to cover the event. "We think that that this would be a decision of the city council," Peterson said, asking the council to authorize city staff to make purchases directly and not require a transfer of money from the PRSA account.
The request drew brief discussion about the funding source. Council members and staff explained the PRSA property-tax collections are transferred to the city under an interlocal agreement and once received the city operates the pool and can spend the funds. City staff recommended purchases be routed through the city so receipts and accounting remain with the pool fund.
Council members gave informal approval to proceed at a not-to-exceed amount. "Council, how do we feel about $1,800?" the presiding officer asked; the majority of council members expressed support and the chair said staff should proceed. City staff described this as direction rather than a formal appropriation and said formal accounting would follow.
Councilors also discussed lowering season-pass prices to prorate the season because the pool opening has been delayed. One council member opposed a proposed 40 percent season-pass discount, saying user fees are a small portion of pool revenue and that July and August bring the heaviest daily admission revenues; others signaled support for a prorated discount if the season is shortened.
City staff provided a separate operational update: the original contractor for pool repairs stopped responding, the city retained a new contractor who began redoing plumbing this week, and crews tested repairs. A staff member said a minor leak found during testing was repaired and glue on new joints needed to set before retesting. If the new plumbing holds, staff expects to backwash the filters and begin chemical treatment to prepare the pool for opening. The staff update said the city has not yet paid the previous contractor and that any final payment amount will be subject to negotiation.
Why it matters: the city’s pool is a seasonal recreational asset used by residents across the PRSA service area. Council direction to use pool-operating money for a community event aims to preserve an organized opening celebration and offset volunteer out-of-pocket costs while staff works to complete repairs.
City staff said they will proceed with purchases and report back on detailed costs and any formal budget actions needed.
