SLV Aquatics seeks Monte Vista support for $24 million countywide pool, asks voters to approve new park-and-rec district

SLV Aquatics asked the Monte Vista City Council on Feb. 6 to back a revised plan to form a countywide park and recreation district that would build a $24 million aquatic center in Monte Vista and send five ballot questions to voters on Nov. 4, 2025.

My name is Jenny Earring with SLV Aquatics, the presenter said, and she walked council through changes since an earlier proposal, including expanding the district boundary to include all of Rio Grande County and cutting the mill levy ask roughly in half from the prior effort.

The nonprofit told the council the pool design has two bodies of water — a cooler six-lane lap pool with a diving well and a warmer family-recreation pool with zero-entry and a lazy-river feature — and that the total project cost is $24,000,000. Funding would come primarily from property tax mill levies: 6.5 mills for capital construction and bonding, plus 2 mills for operations, she said.

The group estimated the combined 8.5-mill ask would cost the owner of an average Monte Vista home (market value cited at $244,000) about $11.58 per month. SLV Aquatics said it expects grant and foundation support after a successful vote and reported a committed $100,000 donation contingent on passage.

Why it matters: SLV Aquatics said a dedicated operating mill will be critical to sustain the facility and avoid relying solely on event or admission revenue. The project proponents framed the pool as both a community amenity and an economic driver that would support swim teams and attract visitors for meets, which proponents say will bring overnight stays and spending in Monte Vista businesses.

The presentation detailed the next steps: SLV Aquatics will submit a second service plan to the Rio Grande County Board of County Commissioners on March 10, with a public hearing expected in April or May. If the BOCC approves the service plan, proponents will petition for formation and put five questions on the Nov. 4, 2025 ballot: formation of the district; election of a board of directors; the 6.5 mills for construction; the 2 mills for operations; and a debruising question that the presenter said would allow the district to retain revenues above assessed forecasts for ongoing needs.

Council members asked several procedural and scope questions, including whether agricultural parcels larger than 40 acres would be included; Earring replied that, by statute, ag lands greater than 40 acres are excluded. City staff and the presenter discussed required petition signatures (the group estimated about 300 but said the exact number is set by statute and county clerk process) and the timeline for BOCC and court steps before an election.

No formal vote was taken on the SLV Aquatics request at the Feb. 6 meeting. One council member asked to table consideration until the March 6 meeting so council could review written materials; SLV Aquatics requested a resolution of support be prepared quickly so it could include it in the service plan they planned to file with the BOCC on March 10.

Funding details and constraints: Earring said grantmakers have told the group they prefer to consider foundation requests after a successful local vote. She also said one anonymous donor has pledged $100,000 conditioned on passage. The presenters noted that the district would be a separate government entity if formed, with its own governing board; the facility would not be a city or county-owned asset but would be sited in Monte Vista.

Community and operational impacts described by SLV Aquatics included hosting local competitive swim teams and larger swim meets (the presenter said meets can draw 200–250 visiting athletes plus families), and the group projected increased local retail and lodging activity tied to event weekends.

The presentation and subsequent Q&A included clarifications SLV Aquatics added to the second service plan: the proposed district boundary now covers all of Rio Grande County (including South Fork and Del Norte), the mill levy amounts and the five ballot questions, and added operating contingencies, including a 3% annual escalation built into operating projections and a small contingency fund for repairs.

Earring asked the council for a letter or resolution of support to include with the service plan; council took no final action but indicated staff would prepare materials for council review before the next meeting.

The SLV Aquatics website and an FAQ page were provided as sources of more detail, and the group listed an email contact for follow-up.