Public meeting on Municipal Pool next Tuesday

The civic leaders of the City of Malta are asking the public to show up to a meeting regarding the future of the Municipal Pool on Tuesday, August 8 at the Malta City Courthouse starting at 7 p.m.

Malta Mayor Shyla Jones said the meeting comes on the heels of Malta City Councilmen Jim Sintler and Bill Hicks approaching the Phillips County Commissioners asking that a countywide bond to pay for a new pool be placed on the ballot in November’s election to let voters decide if they wanted to fund the project.

“They didn’t feel like they wanted to allow the bond on the ballot,” Mayor Jones said. “So now we are asking the public what they see as a means and way because we aren’t sure how to get the money now to build a new pool without some kind of bonding.”

Mayor Jones said that a conservative estimate on a new pool would be about $2 million dollars. She said there are groups working to raise money for a new pool in Malta, but added that there is no way they are going to be able to raise enough money before the old pool gives out. She said that a number of problems plague the pool including the State Inspector closing the pool down late last week because of clarity issues.

“The pool has looked great all year, but it didn’t the day she was there,” Mayor Jones said. “She tested the flow for our circulation system and she didn’t think it was high enough … she wants a new system put in and if we have to do that, there is no way.”

Mayor Jones said that attendance at the pool is down drastically this year and the City of Malta loses anywhere from $20,000 to $50,000 per year on the pool (only bringing in an estimated $7,500 per season.) She asks that public attend the August 8 meeting with thoughts on what needs to happen with the current pool. Though work has been done to prolong the life of the current pool over the last three years, but the Band-Aids will only last for so long and refurbishing the pool and adding to it would cost nearly as much as a brand-new pool.

“And then you still have a 60-year-old pool,” Mayor Jones said. "Come to the meeting with an open mind and discuss what we are going to do with our pool if bonding is absolutely not a possibility. Come with ideas on what we can and should do."

In other City of Malta news, the Malta City Council was informed that Helena Sand & Gravel — the construction crew heading-up the water project around town — are soon going to be doing work on Central Ave near the underpass by the intersection of Central and Highway 2. Mayor Jones said that traffic will be rerouted down South 1st Street East and over the railroad tracks east of town. Mayor Jones said that she will keep people updated on the construction near the underpass via social media and stated that Phillips County Sheriff Scott Moran has sent notices to local firefighters, EMTs and Sheriff's Deputies alerting them to an emergency route through the construction underneath the underpass if needed.

"A barricade will just need to be moved and we have plans for Life Flight and the Phillips County Hospital," Mayor Jones said. "We have also notified BNSF that the underpass will be closed and if it is possible, to please not block the train tracks for too long. That work is all starting real soon and people will have to use the frontage road and cross the railroad tracks for a little while."

Mayor Jones said that the City Council is currently working on next year's budget and stressed that the meetings are open to the public and encourage all five residents running for the mayor position to attend the meetings (call the City Office for more information on meeting times at 654-1251.)

It was announced last week that a primary election (mail in ballot only) to determine two candidates for Mayor will be held on Tuesday, September 12 ahead of the Municipal General Election to be held on November 7 of this year. Malta Mayor Shyla Jones announced that she was not going to run for re-election earlier this year after nearly eight years in the position. To fill her vacancy, a total of five candidates filed for Malta Mayor and they are; Kathleen Bohn-Bagley, John Demarais, Edward A. Haver IV, Chris Judd and Gary Knudsen.

Only the top two vote-getters will proceed to the Municipal General Election.

Ward 1 and Ward 2 candidate names will not appear on the Municipal Primary ballot. The Municipal Primary Election will be conducted by mail only, no polls will be open. Ballots will be mailed August 23, 2017, to all City of Malta active voters.