WECRD has a good plan for us all

Dear editor:

Last week I attended my first meeting for the Western Elmore County Recreation District (WECRD).

I would like to share what I discovered about the future plans of our "recreation."

From this meeting, reading the WECRD website and reading articles and letters from the Mountain Home News I learned:

* In 2000, 60 percent of voters said "YES" to begin the WECRD tax district. Gov. Kempthorne appointed three directors to serve as the district's managers. Those positions have been maintained as a volunteer service to our community and these volunteering members are not reimbursed by district funds. Mollie Marsh is the one remaining director from that appointment by the governor.

By 2004, generated tax funds had purchased 20 acres of county land located within walking distance of the Mountain Home Junior and Senior High Schools. The land also lies within the city's impact zone and is contiguous to city limits. Within a mile of the site are significant shopping and medical care facilities, I-84 and American Legion Boulevard. Directly across 18th Street are the high school football field and track and Eastside Park.

* The WECRD has been leasing this land for agricultural use to a local farmer while the future recreation facility building plans have been studied (and changed) and our yearly collected tax money matures in secure interest generating accounts.

* The District's financial report as of Feb. 19 shows a balance of $1,180,367.30. Additional funding through HUD federal appropriations for the district is imminent. Generous donations from local citizens and groups have been received by the Recreation Foundation of Elmore County, a 501c(3) organization, dedicated to helping fund the construction of the recreation center.

* Supporters at the meeting voiced desire for a year-round swimming pool for exercise to improve their health. These speakers were in the senior citizen age group with handicaps of polio and arthritis. I also voiced support for a handicap-equipped swimming pool for citizens currently in rehabilitation exercise programs. This would include our handicapped children currently in the special education programs at our schools and our neighbors recovering from orthopedic surgeries.

Water aerobic programs have been proven most valuable for all ages, all sizes and all disabilities as a low impact exercise and cardio muscular conditioner. We all fit in this "group."

Currently Western Elmore County does not have such a recreational facility. WECRD board members contacted Hampton Inn and asked about using their swimming pool but due to the company's insurance regulations only motel guests may use their swimming pool. Mountain Home Parks and Recreation has an outdoor swimming pool that is open about 80 days a year.

* Several concerned citizens spoke of the expense of the pool component in the design for the center. Many questioned the feasibility of not only the cost of construction but the cost of its maintenance. There was a voiced desire to introduce the architect to the community.

* Olson & Associates Architects has prepared a well organized multipurpose design for the WECRD Recreation Center. He has consulted in depth with the district to design a facility meeting the needs of Western Elmore County. Olson & Associates has designed the Nampa Recreation Center, Nampa Civic Center, Idaho Center and many other Treasure Valley landmarks.

* In 2008 the WECRD spent nearly $15,000.00 (of our tax money) to pay for the expenses of a special election due to a challenger wanting to become the manager of the District's funds and wanting to spend the accumulated tax dollars on something other than a recreation center.

During this time an emotional and letter-generating debate kept all of us wondering if our WECRD money would go to the golf course, baseball fields, more grass or be kept in place to build a multipurpose recreation center.

The resulting election and "silent majority" vote supported Mollie Marsh as continuing WECRD Director.

This seemed to me a rather expensive exercise (no pun intended) to keep a volunteer in her "seat." But in the end the message of who should continue with the WECRD was clear and the vote was for "Mollie."

So where do we go from here?

I would like to suggest the following:

1. Ask all recreational district supporters to come into the WECRD office and sign a letter of support to be published in the Mountain Home newspaper. While you are there view the architectural drawing and fill out a "needs survey." (Suggested by one of the speakers at the meeting.)

2. Offer to volunteer.

3. Discourage negative debate and encourage positive support.

4. Become informed by visiting the WECRD web site at www.wecrdgov.org. Attend a meeting and listen to the progress being made for our recreation center.

Finally, I would like to remind all of us that good manners during public meetings are not only necessary but appreciated by everyone attending.

Marsha Sellers, R.N.