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Committee presses for operating-cost estimate before committing to new pool design
Summary
Committee members debated a conceptual pool (about 12,700 sq ft, ~370,000–420,000 gallons, 0-entry and up to eight lanes) and emphasized that an operating-cost analysis and clearer funding plan are prerequisites for advancing capital fundraising or committing to an 8-lane design.
Committee members discussed the long-running prospect of a new community pool in Cross Plains and repeatedly flagged operating costs as the central barrier to moving from design concept to construction.
Staff presented a conceptual design the committee has been reviewing — described in the meeting as roughly 12,700 square feet and holding about 370,000 to 420,000 gallons — with an 0-entry area and up to eight lanes for lap swimming. "It would be 12,700 square feet and it would hold about 370,000 to 420,000 gallons," the chair said while summarizing the figures provided by the pool consultant.
Committee members and staff discussed several alternatives to the large single-pool concept: a smaller pool to reduce operating costs, a two-pool approach (an eight-lane lap pool plus a smaller recreational pool), or a more modest 6-lane design. Members noted other municipalities' examples (Pioneer, Evansville, Middleton) and asked staff to gather operating-cost comparisons and real-world site visits.
The committee repeatedly emphasized the need for a transparent operating-cost worksheet that separates membership revenue, day fees, concessions, staff wages, utilities (water/sewer/gas/electricity), chemicals, insurance and maintenance so the board can assess long-term affordability. One committee member said fundraising is difficult without an operating-cost commitment from the village board; another suggested early outreach to neighboring municipalities to assess partnership possibilities and potential annual contributions.
Committee members also discussed the value of leveraging the current pool property (selling or repurposing it) to help offset capital costs, and whether phasing the project or seeking a lead donor/foundation partner would make a larger design feasible. Several members recommended the finance committee continue modeling operating scenarios and return with a clear recommendation to the board.
What happens next: staff and the finance committee will prepare operating-cost estimates for multiple pool-size options and pursue peer comparisons and site visits; the committee agreed operating-cost modeling must be resolved before significant capital fundraising.
