Thursday, May 16, 2013

Quality of life as an aquatic assumption? City council hones rubber stamp.

Shouldn't Dan Coffey be maddeningly concerned that Mars, Jupiter or other gender indeterminate androids might try to use the aquatic center?

Don't swimming pools have rights, too?

Meanwhile, if excessive expenditure is inevitable, we might as well lie back and enjoy it. From the very start of this headlong rush to spend millions on recreation, my criticism has been simpler than that of my friend Sam Schad (below).

Can anyone explain precisely why an aquatics center is a "no brainer" insofar as "quality of life" issues are concerned? 

Councilman Blair, you go first. Take your time -- well, at least until 7:30 p.m.

This assumption has been voiced dozens of times, as though the frequency and volume of the phrase's repetition alone suffices as a buttressing rationale. Sorry, but it doesn't.

If quality of life issues are paramount, what was the process leading to an aquatic center ranking first on the list?

Might other strategic expenditures of millions across the city as a whole contribute to overall quality of life as much or more so than one solitary, isolated facility?

Why this project and not others?

Hell, it's okay. I'm accustomed to my questions being unanswered. That's why I drink to excess even as the Tricentennial of 2113 looms just over that horizon. It should be an entertaining gathering this evening; in addition to the rubber stamping of aquatics, there'll be a bicentennial commission awdit resolution, complete with consummate CeeSaw caterwauling.

If I'm lucky, I won't remember any of it.

New Albany swimming pool plan is drawing criticism; Advocates want 50-meter lap option and year-round training, by Grace Schneider (C-J)

As New Albany Mayor Jeff Gahan and his administration edge closer to building a new aquatic center, criticism is ramping up from competitive swimming advocates who insist that the plans lack a crucial element — a 50-meter lap pool.

They also want a facility that can be covered to allow for year-round training, swim lessons and competitive team practices.

On Thursday night, the City Council is expected to review and vote on revised plans for the proposed $8 million to $9 million aquatic center, which the city intends to build on the former Camille Wright pool property in the 200 block of West Daisy Lane.

Several critics, led by New Albany lawyer Sam Schad, are expected to attend the meeting to push their point. Schad wrote a letter Monday asking Gahan to delay asking for a council vote, asserting that the city should build a pool that allows for year-round access for a broad cross section of the community.

Schad provided the names of more than 300 residents from New Albany, Floyd County and nearby communities who agree with his assertion that the city’s design is flawed.

Ah, but where do those petition signers actually live?

New Albany council to vote on aquatic center plans Thursday; Splash park added to park plan at Hoosier Panel site, by Daniel Suddeath (N and T)

 ... Beyond the debate over whether a bond should have been approved to fund the projects, there have been other concerns raised by officials and members of the community about the projects.

New Albany resident Sam Schad submitted a letter to Mayor Jeff Gahan and local media outlets protesting the aquatic center.

It included a petition with 302 signatures from people Schad said desired a more “robust” facility that would provide full-year access to a 50-meter pool.

“Given the design resources at our disposal, it seems senseless that no one is asking one simple question: How can we build a facility that could be used by the broadest spectrum of our community all year long,” Schad wrote in the letter.

Many of the names on the petition were credited to locations outside of New Albany, and some were from outside of Floyd County.

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