Resident urges county support for pool renovation; task force, school board coordination urged

During public comment, Jane Harrelson of 172 Rafferty Drive urged the Board of County Commissioners to support renovating the Lake County Intermediate School aquatic center rather than building a new standalone facility, citing five years of community input and more than $400,000 in taxpayer‑funded studies.

Harrelson told commissioners the county’s feasibility study estimated a full renovation at about $7,500,000 (a figure she said included a 6% inflation adjustment on county numbers), while she had also heard estimates ranging from $20 million to $34 million from other sources. She said PB Swims (a local nonprofit cited in the comment) is applying for USDA Rural Facilities Grant funding by March 27 and asked the board to write a letter of support to the Senate Appropriations Committee for that application.

County staff noted a pool task force has met twice and is focused on identifying feasible options to restore public swimming access; staff emphasized that the full task force wants a unified decision among the school district, city and county before letters of support are sent. Staff said the school district had not yet been asked about use of its facility and that task‑force members planned to seek clarity from the school board before committing to a letter.

Why it matters: The comment ties together several decision points — grant applications, school‑district facility use and a task‑force review of options — and asks the commission to indicate formal support. Staff told the commission the task force’s purpose is to evaluate viable options that preserve community access to swimming, not to pre‑decide which facility would be used.

What’s next: The applicant (PB Swims) is seeking grant funds by March 27; staff indicated Jane Harrelson or task‑force representatives would engage the school board and report back to the commission before the board issues a letter.