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Resident urges Ellensburg to fix longstanding pool maintenance issues, citing city reserves
Summary
During public comment Pat Keller criticized deferred maintenance at the city pool and urged the council to prioritize repairs rather than new spending; he cited a 2018 roof report and said the city has over $15 million in unrestricted reserves.
At the council meeting resident Pat Keller spoke during the public comment period urging the council to prioritize maintenance of the city pool and other existing facilities.
Keller said he felt "a little uncomfortable not having... security here tonight" but proceeded to list repair and safety deficiencies he said have persisted for years: a urinal broken for four years, an exit light that is out, and an ADA family restroom that lacks a lever handle. He cited a 2018 roof report that, he said, showed water entering the building in multiple locations and stressed that these are not "big ticket" items but essential upkeep.
Keller also framed the issue as one of priorities rather than finances. He told council, "We have over 15 million in unrestricted reserves," and said decisions about pools and other recreational amenities reflect policy choices. He urged the council to "fix what we already own" before discussing new facilities.
The council did not take immediate action on the pool maintenance items during this meeting; the remarks were recorded as public comment for council consideration.
