Reader favors Marsh in WECRD election

Dear editor:

In 1998 a group of people decided to pursue a great idea for a small town in the middle of Idaho. That simple idea was to enhance our lives and the lives of our children's children with a recreational center where people could swim, play racquetball, basketball, aerobic fitness classes, climbing walls, and a multitude of other opportunities only limited by your imagination.

These programs would be available to all age groups from tots to older adults during all seasons of the year.

It was decided to form a non-profit organization, Western Elmore County Recreation District (WECRD), which could pursue state funds, grants, mil levy taxes, donations, charitable gifts and other forms of monetary support that would allow them to reserve funds until a facility could be built and the dream realized.

Several years later we have come to the crossroads at which the organization is on the threshold of locating utilities and breaking ground. WECRD is one step away from receiving a federal grant. At this time architectural designs are being created and data is being gathered in support of an operational plan. Negotiations with the city have been underway for the purpose of obtaining input and support.

Throughout this process WECRD has been and will continue to seek and consider the interest of the public.

At this particular point in time, there is also a very important issue for those of us who live, work, and pay our hard-earned tax dollars to our government. This issue is one of choosing the right direction and voting for the candidate that will see the vision through until the end.

In light of this choice there are some very important things to point out regarding the incumbent and the challenger for the WECRD board.

The incumbent, Mollie Marsh, has been on the board since its inception. Her time, sweat, and countless hours of devotion have been purely voluntary. She believes in planting seeds for the future and has been steadfast in her commitment to making this endeavor work. She has no other motives for raising funds other than to see the facility built and for all to reap its benefits.

She has listened to the public while answering both criticism and praises. She is like the lead climber clawing her way up the mountainside constantly searching for a new way to ascend to the final goal. Every other climber must place their trust and faith in the lead climber who is willing to sacrifice herself for the cause.

The challenger, Leanna Whitney, has some experience, which may well be applicable to the venture. However, there are many questions which should be answered before the ballot is cast.

First countless volunteer hours have already been given in support of this facility and the board has always remained open to assistance from volunteers, or new ideas and better suggestions for doing business from the public while honoring its commitment to the local community.

Throughout this time I have never heard nor seen the challenger attend meetings, ask questions, offer suggestions, or donate her time. If someone is truly interested in something, they usually get involved and lend their talents.

The challenger refers to the board's increased taxes as "a violation of taxpayers' trust." All taxpayers realize the need for taxes as long as there is a reason for it. Taxpayers should question the trust of the challenger when that person, if elected, would oversee both the City of Mountain Home funds and WECRD funds. This may not be considered legally wrong but morally, it has all the appearance of a conflict of interest.

The challenger states that the district may dissolve. If that so, then why didn't it dissolve a long time ago? Considering how close the WRECRD is to building something that we can be proud of, why would we want to give up now! The challenger states we might be duplicating services. If the services of the new facility are year round, then please take my taxpayer dollars and fill in the old pool with dirt so we can plant a garden.

The challenger states that the WECRD should collaborate with the school district. The district is very willing to work with the WECRD and many individuals have indicated that this would be a good opportunity.

Finally, the challenger states that the facility must be self supporting. The board was approached recently with the idea of decreasing the tax levy after the first phase of the facility was completed. They were very open to the idea and fully understand the need for having a facility that is self supporting.

However, we need to face reality and maybe the challenger needs to visit the link below and contact some of the city officials or board of directors for a better understanding of what is involved. I have been in contact with city officials from Golden, Colo. They have indicated that although not fully self sufficient, their facility brings in a good portion of its operating costs. They also said the initial opposition faded once the facility was built and operational. Currently, it is utilized by all the community and is a place for many hours of family fun and enjoyment (http://ci.golden.co.us/Page.asp?NavID=331).

In sum, like all endeavors in life, there are always obstacles to overcome, choices to be made and tasks that must be accomplished to realize the dream.

To quote an old Chinese proverb, "The Ox is slow but the earth is patient." My vote is for Molly Marsh.

Joseph Armstrong