Posted Jan 8, 2009 at 12:16 PM
If you will look at the Parks and Recreation Master Plans I've posted on the citizen websites, you will see that the 'concept' of an aquatic center that was based upon citizen input and proposed was a swimming pool with adjacent racquetball courts for a cost of less than $5,000,000.00. That was what the citizens asked for....what do they get instead? And, Town Council can't understand why people are upset?
Posted Jan 8, 2009 at 1:11 PM
...its not that having an Aquatics Center is a bad thing. It is the process by which it was thrust upon the citizens of C'burg and the total disregard in educating the public on how it will benefit (or not) them in the future. It is the general approach that the Town takes that really is making this and other things so irritating. I'm tired of the Town spending money (and taxing) like they have no responsibility to be good stewards of that money or respectful to the people who give it to them. That's the real rub in almost every case as far as I'm concerned. The AC has just brought it out more, because people can actually get information without the Town's help.
Posted Jan 8, 2009 at 1:18 PM
Why isn't the Aquatic Center under the C'burg Parks & Rec Department?
Posted Jan 8, 2009 at 1:41 PM
Carol is right - families wanted a place to take children and get exercise. A swimming pool would have sufficed. Christiansburg needs an "aquatic center" like a fish needs a bicycle. But, if you are a fish in Christiansburg, you should get a bicycle because there won't be room for you at the "aquatic center."
While the Mayor said this was the final step of the long ago plan/citizen survey that hatched this pool complex, where will you ride or play? Bikeways/trailways and better/more community pocket parks remain un-done and unfunded at this point. Given federal deficit and state budget cuts and town's minimal grant applications, where will that funding come from?
Posted Jan 8, 2009 at 2:10 PM
Because of the lack of planning there is already questions about an event scheduled before Council has seen a "business plan" setting forth fees, etc. for events.
Posted Jan 8, 2009 at 2:22 PM
How could this group set their fees for registration for the participants without knowing what they were going to have to pay for use of the facility or the costs of police, clean up, etc... by the Town. That's why it sounds "fishy" to begin with that not one person in the Town knows anything about it.
Posted Jan 8, 2009 at 5:25 PM
It looks like they have already started giving time at the Aquatic Center away for free. Tech, now this group. This darned thing is supposed to support itself how? Oh, the fees charged citizens, I see.
Posted Jan 8, 2009 at 6:10 PM
Everybody take two steps back, and a deep breath. This will be good us, our kids and oldsters, VT Swim and other groups. There should be some value in having our town working with VT too, they have many resources including leadership and planning and running business ventures they could maybe help the town with too. The pool may cost more then what people thought but who ever believed it would cost nothing? No one. Everyone has been well intentioned that's agreed. I no the path to Hell is paved with good intentions too. Officials should have been getting information out to the public and I think they no that now.
Posted Jan 8, 2009 at 6:15 PM
I think it is odd that with as much attention and hype this whole thing has gotten that the council and public wasn't introduced during any meetings to the director. For that matter you never hear about about any town department managers being at these meetings.
Posted Jan 8, 2009 at 10:38 PM
Well, consider, too, that council is now podering another ill-conceived project... a bus system! For crying out loud. Where's the money coming from? Tech? Where's the fiscal responsibility? Last I heard, we're facing layoffs at Corning, Hubble, Federal Mogul, Volvo, Wolverine... am I missing anyone? Next? State shortfall. Which means Tech layoffs and budget cuts. Looks to me like they're spending as much as they can before the next round of assessments? Don't they know that housing prices are dropping? Why spend more when home values are dropping? Hello, shortfall! I think spending anything at this time is ill-advised. Especially as housing continues to suffer.
The town is not paying a dime for the MPO bus survey, unless you count their membership fees and the Community Development Block Grant monies it automatically receives but doesn't use and gives away. Don't have the exact amount town pays for the trolley today, but generally these "start out" with federal funds (and then weaned) and are seen as a means of offsetting pollution and congestion (and therefore the need for more roads). One might instead ask why the state still has so much money to spend on planning, gathering results that will have little or no value by the time funding becomes available (whether state, federal or with local contributions). VT has not announced staff or faculty lay offs nor suggested early retirement packages (nor an increase to 2009-2010 tuition and fees yet). It will be interesting to see how property assessments appear next time -- up, down, flat? Every homeowner needs to prepare to fully understand the basis used for their tax assessment, and be ready to argue why it is inflated. Hey, everyone, let's put our houses on the market within a year of the next assessment -- see what realtors say they're worth, and what type of offers you get! That will absolutely tell you the "value" of your home. And why are home prices falling faster in Cburg than surrounding areas? Agreed, the spending spigot needs to be closed for new services until the drought is past, and closely reviewed for the value and need of existing essential services.
Posted Jan 9, 2009 at 10:11 AM
...talking layoffs, but RU just had a big push for early retirement (which I understand had many takers) from its long term teaching staff. Might be unrelated, but I'm guessing it was a direct result of budget cuts. Will VT be far behind? I hope not.