WECRD duplicating effort

Dear editor:

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear Rec Center (YMCA), an indoor swimming pool?

I've spoken to several that are shocked to hear a pool is "NOT" in the plans. Not now or in the near future.

Reason; we do not have the population (population = tax dollars) to support one. Our population was 13,800 in 2012, a decline from 14,200 in 2010. The closest comparison is Caldwell, with a population of 47,000 and yes, they have a pool.

What is planned?

Meeting rooms? Our hotels, lodges and churches provide those.

Day Care? We have 15 that I saw listed in the phone book, and I'm sure we have private daycare providers, plus we have a youth center in town and one on the base.

Cardio and weight room? We have two gyms in town and one on the base.

Recreational programs? Parks and Rec has a phenomenal list to choose from.

Why are we duplicating what we already have?

Why are we trying to build a 33,000-square-foot facility with a whole lot of duplication and in a flood plain on top of that?

Why are we competing with our local businesses that pay taxes and give back to our community? They supply jobs, advertise in the yearbooks, phone books, news papers, contribute to fund raisers and work with the school's job programs. Why would we want to cause them harm? They are providing invaluable services.

Why are the homeowners in the city being taxed, not once but twice for the same services, once for Parks and Rec and again for the Rec Center? Why are the home owners in the county being taxed on their homes and on open land?

I had questions so I went to www.wecred.org to get answers.

I found that money needed to run this facility is projected to cost $590,000 per year! With a membership base of seven hundred, $340,000 should, and I repeat the word "should," be raised from membership dues and the other $250,000 will come from the taxes you pay.

How much will your membership cost you ask? Twenty-five dollars to $45 per month, depending on the type of membership you have. There are different types available for individuals, families, young adults and seniors. And get this! Financial assistance is available and no one is turned away from the YMCA due to inability to pay. Just a thought -- how will they know and track the inability of one to pay?

Hope you have your checkbooks open with a pen in hand because us homeowners will be footing the bill and we will still get to pay our membership dues!

Why couldn't we use the money already raised to improve and cover our existing pool, add racket ball courts and have an indoor basketball court? This would add something new and very much wanted by the community. It would cause no harm to the local businesses and we could give our homeowners and landowners a much needed tax break.

Home, property and business owners please get involved!

-- Nannette Blonshine