Snohomish schools chief promises that swim center will be built

SNOHOMISH — A new aquatic center will be built, says Snohomish Schools Superintendent Bill Mester.

But the pool must first pay for itself.

“We are not giving up on the project,” Mester said.

How to do that may include moving the center outside Snohomish’s city limits if it would mean the district would pay lower utility costs.

Or the district could charge higher swimming fees, or find ways to make the pool more energy efficient, Mester said. And the district may even get help from the city.

The School District suspended work on the 46,000-square-foot building last week after an analysis came out saying that it could cost $450,000 or more each year to operate than it would generate in revenue.

The decision was made after the district had spent $1.8 million on surveys, architects and soil studies.

Mester declined to give a time frame on when the district will build the aquatic center, which was a key piece of a $268 million bond approved by voters two years ago.

Elected school board members Shaunna Ballas, Jay Hagen, Leah Hughes-Anderson and Josh Seek did not return phone or email messages about the aquatic center. Board member David Johnston responded to an email Wednesday, but referred any comment to the district spokeswoman.

Mester said he met with each board member in the past few weeks to talk about the analysis from the California-based Sports Management Group. Each one approved his decision to suspend the project, he said. There were no meetings scheduled during this time because of spring break.

The decision was influenced by the 37 teaching positions that are on the chopping block as part of the $4.3 million cuts in expenses. The Snohomish School Board is scheduled to vote on these cuts and officially approved the suspension of the project at its April 27 meeting.

The construction was a big project for the city this year. It would have received about $120,000 in building permit fees and $150,000 in construction sales tax, Snohomish Planning Director Corbitt Loch said.

“It is an important aspect of new investment in an area of Snohomish,” he said.

The city is looking for ways to help with the operational costs, but an analysis is needed before a commitment can be made, City Manager Larry Bauman told the City Council at its Tuesday night meeting. The analysis is expected to be done in a couple of weeks.

Meanwhile, school officials and the aquatic center committee are trying to find a solution by looking into the site, trying to reduce operational costs and searching for ways to increase revenue, Mester said.

“The solution will come from different sources,” he said.

The one thing that he said they wouldn’t do is ask taxpayers for a bond to pay for operation of the pool.

The pool was planned at 601 Glen Ave., but it could be moved outside city limits if it’s less expensive to operate at a different location, he said.

The district has the money to build the complex. The problem is with the continuing costs of staff, maintenance and utilities, Mester said.

The center was planned to start construction this summer and to be open in the fall of 2012.

Alejandro Dominguez: 425-339-3422; adominguez@heraldnet.com.