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EAST LIVERPOOL -- After the funding source for the operations of the Thompson Park Pool was closed, city officials worked to find other funding sources to get the pool open.
During a meeting of the East Liverpool City Council's Recreation and Ordinance Committee held Tuesday afternoon, Mayor Bobby Smith said that with a donation of $35,000 from a donor unable to be named until Monday, the pool will open.
Smith said he made some phone calls once he became aware of the issue to find out why the grant to fund the pool was closed. He said he was told that the grant that was in place was to prevent teen pregnancy and was pulled once the mistake was realized it.
There was discussion between the mayor and the committee members on them wanting to see responsibility of the pool go back to the park instead of the city. There was also discussion about the possibility of a possible levy to ensure the operating funds are there for the pool and prevent an absence of funding from occurring again in the future.
Council and Committee Member Brian Kerr said he had been approached about a possible donation, but the donor wants a plan in place first to make sure this isn't an issue again next year.
There was also discussion about a long-term goal of getting handicap accessibility to the pool. Kerr mentioned that he would like to see a splash pad be installed at the pool as it has a lower insurance premium than the baby pool because it would be zero depth and be more accessible to those with wheelchairs or special needs. Smith noted that some of these could possibly be addressed by applying for grants once funding is secure for the pool.
The city is currently accepting donations for the pool which will be placed in the Potter Progress where it can only be used for the pool.
The mayor again assured the pool would open for the summer with the $24,000 the city currently has in the pool fund and the $35,000 donation, but a plan needs to be put in place to ensure continued operations for future seasons.
Council and Committee Member Fred Rayl agreed with needing a permanent plan, possibly a levy, and noted the city cannot rely on donations.
Smith wants a committee formed to conceive and review options and plans to make sure the pool remains open year after year. Anyone interested in serving on the committee should contact the mayor's office.
"We are going in the right direction, but I don't want early success to stop later success by thinking, 'oh, it's OK now.' It's not OK," Smith said. "It's just a Band-Aid. We still need to fix it."