Goshen council proceeds cautiously with pool, fire station
GOSHEN — Goshen City Council members took on various topics at Monday evening's meeting including the Shanklin Pool renovations and the annexation for a new South Fire Station.
A resolution regarding the financing of the Shanklin Pool Project was presented to the council members. The conversation revolved around the amount of changes regarding funding statewide and federally and the effects it has on local projects, such as this one.
Mayor Gina Leichty touched on the financial changes that go beyond the city, as state legislation affect funds and grants that continue to evolve and as well as federal funding.
'As you know there has been considerable amount of discussion around this resolution as our finances are still unknown based on some of the decision making that is happening at the state Legislature,' she said. 'The decisions that will impact the city's finances potentially significantly in the coming year, as well as some federal conversations that have happened.'
According to the mayor, there has been conversation about pausing the resolution, but there is additional time if the council chooses to pass the resolution that could offer more opportunities to evaluate the finances. The conversation about finances for the city and this project would be based off of what the city hears from the state Legislature and the federal government.
Mayor Leichty continued to share her thoughts saying that the project being put on pause would allow the city to evaluate the finances as they receive more information on funding without adversely impacting the city as the year goes on.
She recognizes the disappointment this may cause to not only those involved in the project who put time into the project but also the community that deeply values the pool.
'Losing this resource would have a significant impact. Being closed this summer, but potentially longer, will certainly impact quality of life but on health and wellbeing of kids in our community,' she said. 'So many kids take advantage of being outdoors and of taking swim lessons. We have hundreds of kids that take swim lessons each year.'
The department is exploring alternatives if the pool is closed for a longer period of time such as partnerships with schools and other sources. Councilor Megan Peel had asked the department heads if the pool in its current state could be used this summer and she was informed that it would not be open for use due to mechanical issues and other safety concerns.
Councilor Doug Nisley mentioned his interest in approving the resolution and process and continuing up to the issue of the bond and at that point making a decision to stop or move forward in the process of issuing a bond.
Redevelopment Director Becky Hutsell said that the process can continue and if the project is paused, none of the steps in the process would have to be repeated; they would just continue where the process left off.
Jason Semler, a consultant from the municipal advisory firm of Baker Tilly, explained that the point of no return in the bond process would be once bonds are given.
Parks Superintendent Tanya Heyde, Hutsell and others who have invested time into the Shanklin Pool project were not expecting these changes and nor the discussion of pausing the project.
'We are in a heartbreaking situation,'Heyde said. 'We never anticipated to be in this spot. We have moved forward with best efforts and talked with the council on several occasions. We have done all of the proper steps but this is just unexpected.
'As staff, we have talked and if it does have to be closed down for a year, does that allow opportunities for fundraising, is there an opportunity to go back to the Community Foundation with how much has changed. We were not successful with our first application, but the world is different now.'
The council has until May to approve or deny before the bonds are sold. There will be more meetings, and until then, Semler told them to discuss it further. The resolution was approved but the council and all those involved are moving forward with caution as they continue to receive more information.
FIRE STATION
Another project that has been an ongoing discussion is the annexation for a new South Fire Station. Mayor Leichty did inform the council that this project is one that will continue to be evaluated as the city waits to hear more from the state.
Fire Chief Anthony Powell spoke on the subject and is aware that since this project was proposed in 2021, the climate has changed.
'Our call volume has increased dramatically and the staffing we were originally going to set for that station, is not going to be adequate in my opinion,' he said. 'We asked for 15 personnel for this station and then we agreed upon nine. Our call value from 2002-2015 went up from 1,300 calls. From 2016-2020 it went up 1,200 and in the last four years we went up another 900 calls.'
He anticipates that this year alone, the call volume is on track to hit 6,000 if the calls continue to increase the way it has been within the last two months. With call volumes increasing, he thinks moving forward with the project would cause the new station to be understaffed and be a burden for personnel.
Chief Powell also mentioned that staffing under the National Fire Protection Association says that each shift should consist of 26-28 members per shift but they are currently at 20 when fully staffed and that plays a part in the decision making of the station.
'There are a lot of factors that went into play in making this decision,' he said. 'Do we want a new fire station? Yes. However, moving forward I think we have some time. Cherry Creek is not built up yet, we can service that area.
'And if we have to, the Elkhart Township Fire Station is out there and we could do some remodel that would get us by for 10 to 15 years down the road.'
The resolution was passed by council. For both projects, the departments and the city will continue to proceed with caution while they wait for information on grants and funding from the state and federally.
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