MVA Board votes to begin construction
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POLSON — The Mission Valley Aquatics Board of Directors unanimously approved plans to begin construction of the indoor aquatic facility at a public meeting held on Oct. 25 at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.
The board had raised approximately $2.8 million and needs to raise an additional $200,000 by the end of 2010. If the fundraising goal is met, the board can work with the Architect Design Group, builder Swank Enterprises and the building committee for a dig date of June 1, 2011, since MVA board member Hu Beaver said the design phase will take approximately six months.
The initial phase features the main pool, locker rooms, and a lobby area. The board will continue to seek funds for a complete facility with the therapy pool as the next priority, and the activity pool to follow.
“The big debate has been what has the biggest impact on the community,” Beaver said.
Project director Tana Seeley said the pool can be used for water aerobics, swim lessons in eight different locations around the pool, water polo, diving since the pool will be 13 feet on the deep end, competitive swimming, lap swimming, as a therapy pool, for pool parties and kayak rolls.
There will be some complaints about temperature, Seeley said, since lap swimmers would like it cooler and aerobics and swim lessons would like warmer water. The pool temperature will be from 82 to 85 degrees.
Beaver added that building costs are as good as it’s ever going to get due to the economy.
Paul London, Polson businessman, commented that he was definitely in support of the pool. He added when the project starts then people would open their wallets. London also asked about parking for the facility.
Although she was entirely in support of the aquatic center, Penny Jarecki, local resident, said people had approached her with concerns so she had agreed to bring the concerns to the MVA board.
Penny said the board discussing what they could afford to do signified the board was cost conscious, but she wanted to make sure they would not compromise on quality.
“You’re sticklers for quality. Is that true?” Penny asked.
She was assured the board was quality conscious.
Penny also asked if the board had done their due diligence in analyzing the market since she was in the group getting bad knees and bad backs with interest in the therapy pool.
Seeley said the MVA board had done a feasibility study and realized Polson is a retirement community and also hopes to draw people from Big Fork and Plains and other communities.
The therapy pool is the next priority according to Marc Vergeront, MVA board member.
Melinda Leas, local businessperson, said it’s not necessary to have a therapy pool. Therapy can be done in a regular pool.
Penny also asked if the land was purchased.
Beaver replied that two-and-half-acres of land was donated, and MVA will have the deed when the survey is completed.
Chuck Jarecki, area resident, asked if the facility was premised on a certain place since it moved around.
Different pieces of property are zoned differently in the subdivision, Seeley said.
Chuck also asked what happens if the development goes into bankruptcy.
The board had discussed the possibility MVA board member Raina Stene said, but it feels confident the land will be deeded to MVA.
Later Chuck asked, “Once you decide on the plan then the property will be surveyed and you’ll have a deed before anything else is done?”
“If we vote that we’re going to do this, we’ll be up there and survey it,” Beaver assured Chuck.
Then the board voted unanimously to begin construction.
Check the website www.mvaquatics.org to see the plans and to donate to the aquatic center.
