vision2020
Re: Pool Finances
Dear Ken and Visionaries,
The past summer has been a 'maiden voyage' for the pool and we are all
looking with great interest for some analysis of the first season of
operation. Many of us were cautious about the operations costs but we knew
we needed some 'on the ground data' ('in the water data?') before making any
judgments.
The pool in its Ghormley mode was subsidized each year for anywhere from
$10,000 to a high of about $25,000 one year, depending upon what expenses
you counted.
Hang in there. Let the information be collected and digested. We're all
interested.
As to your comment about the council members and Vision 2020, each of us is
a single voice. You're reading my views right now. And, believe it or not,
we have jobs and other activities to deal with (!). So, if each of us does
not immediately enter the V2020 conversation, understand that we're probably
listening and appreciating the dialogue as part of what we need to review in
order to JOINTLY form policy in cooperation with the mayor, our staff and
the rest of the citizens of Moscow who may not be part of V2020.
I appreciate your comments and look forward to reading more.
All the best to you and the rest of V2020,
Linda Pall
Council President and candidate for you know what.
PS: I think the pool staff did a splendid job this summer. Hats off to them
in a new and different realm!
----- Original Message -----
From: William K. Medlin <dev-plan@moscow.com>
To: Mike Curley <curley@turbonet.com>
Cc: Moscow <vision2020@moscow.com>
Sent: Friday, September 22, 2000 9:01 PM
Subject: Re: Pool Finances
> Thanks very much, Mike, for your reasonable and cautionary remarks
> about all the scuttle-but about the Aquatics Park issue. We needed
> that. At the same time, it would be good if other civic leaders, esp.
> a council person or two, would step forward with a policy statement
> addressing some of the concerns that have been voiced. I personally
> have no serious concerns, other than that the public deserves to be
> as well informed by officials as the available data allow. Not only
> in this community but generally across the country, the range of
> citizen responsibilities and participation has been growing more and
> more restricted due to a variety of erosive factors. It's up to
> elected officials to help restore both confidence and interest in
> govt'l affairs, and to build trust between the elected and the
> electorate. Good communities usually emerge from these wholesome
> relationships. Carry on, Mike! Ken M.
>
> >Ken and other Visionaries:
> >Just a side note to what has been to me an interesting discussion
> >about the pool and public works generally: before we cast any new
> >aspersions at any of our city officials or pool managers, we should
> >keep in mind the time it takes to have a full and complete picture of
> >the finances of any operation, commercial or public. The pool just
> >closed a week or two ago. Bills will no doubt continue to trickle
> >in and be paid, and some operational costs may be fragmented
> >throughout the fiscal year. I am not making excuses for anyone (and
> >particularly DON'T know whom that anyone may be), but simply saying
> >that to get an ACCURATE picture of the finances of any operation
> >takes both time and an understanding of the accounting principles and
> >conventions that are used in making the report.
> >
> >I expect in time our city council will ask the same questions that
> >are being asked here and that a business manager, accountant, or
> >manager will supply not only the data, but an opinion on the net
> >revenue/cost of the pool. In fact, to those council members who do
> >subscribe to 2020 or otherwise hear about the posts, I ask that you
> >follow up at an appropriate time and that you have the basic
> >information posted here or at least identify a site where the
> >information can be obtained.
> >
> >Thanks,
> >
> >Mike Curley
> >
> >
> >Date: Mon, 18 Sep 2000 20:53:22 -0700
> >To: krehbiel@moscow.com
> >From: "William K. Medlin" <dev-plan@moscow.com>
> >Subject: Re: Pool Finances
> >Cc: Moscow <vision2020@moscow.com>
> >
> >Folks: I thoroughly subscribe to Doug's reasoning here and on
> >insistence on disclosure. Political officeholders throughout our
> >society have acquired a predilection for keeping public data,
> >budgets, expenditures, evaluations (when rarely required), etc. away
> >from public scrutiny. The McCain-Feinstein appeals over the past 2-3
> >years for campaign reform are only symptomatic of a widespread
> >practice by politicians and those whom they control in govts.of not
> >being accountable to anyone except at the ballot box. That's not good
> >enough for a democracy or a free market economy. For better and for
> >worse, the growth of govt. regulation at all levels places increased
> >fiscal and investment options within control of politicians. As for
> >the pool itself, it's a great 'invention' for this community, even
> >tho on most hot summer days it was like cans of sardines back to back
> >and little SWIMMING room other than getting wet. With the Joseph St
> >land now being developed, hindsight says we could have, with long
> >range planning and community participation, developed an all-purpose
> >sports and recreation site there, with a covered pool. It would have
> >been well worth the extra few $ million to make that a comprehensive
> >project to serve MORE people and bring in more receipts. Just
> >thinking out loud. Thanks, Doug. Ken M.
> >
> >>My original comment was really an attempt at gaining information. I
> >>think we need to evaluate the finances of all of our public facilities
> >>in order to operate them in a responsible manner. We, as tax paying
> > >citizen, have the opportunity to comment on all government budgeting
and
> >>spending. I would like to know that an Air Force toilet ($1200) doesn't
> >>go into city hall. The debate about the cost/benefits of the pool is
> >>somewhat hampered when we don't know the costs.
> >>
> >>>From my perspective, if the pool "lost" a lot of money, we should hold
> >>the managers to the task of being more responsible with our money. If
> >>the pool "made" money, a review of entrance fees is in order and we
> >>should hold the managers to the task of being responsible with our other
> >>money.
>
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