COVID-19 restrictions and lack of finances forced the Stayton Family Memorial Pool to close on Nov. 20.
“We made a decision over the past few weeks because of some maintenance and use issues, we just couldn’t keep it open,” said Stayton Mayor Hank Porter. “That, and because we lost the levy for the second time.”
Porter said the city would have to “dig and scratch” to find funds to maintain the pool.
“Our maintenance needs are beyond the daily routine,” he said. “The whole dehumidifying system finally just quit after piecing it together over the years, and that warm, wet air is a perfect incubator for COVID.”
Porter said the city was hit with a huge bill all at once for a $300K to $500K HVAC system, despite getting a brand new boiler and having the pool painted in August.
“It’s going to be rough skating if we don’t pass the levy this next time, not only for the pool but for the library,” Porter said.
Porter said the city will try for a maintenance levy in May, a proposed date for re-opening the pool should the levy pass.
“We may not be able to open by then even,” he said. “If the community isn’t going to support the pool, it’s pretty hard to keep it open. Meanwhile swimmers will have to go to Albany or Salem to use their pools.”
COVID-19 restrictions included new risk-reduction measures from Gov. Kate Brown to close recreational facilities, including indoor pools. These edicts also added to the city’s financial problem by keeping many swimmers away, Porter said.
“In March, we had 200 memberships,” he said. “Now there are about 20. People just haven’t come back.”
Porter cited the pool as a feature in the community that he and others want to keep.
“Feedback has not been good,” he said about the closure. “A lot is coming from patrons of the pool, especially ones who are primarily affected. People that use it are pretty passionate about it.
“People need to know pools are always expensive,” he added. “A couple of people have recommended that pool users call the city council, but they aren’t listening to the reasons why we had to close it. It’s hard to know what to do.”
Porter advocated for voters to pass the levy to restore services to both the pool and the Stayton Public Library.
“We want to thank you all for the support you have given us and please know this was not an easy decision,” he said.
Several posts on the Stayton Community Connections Facebook page echo Porter’s sentiments, including one from Kristin Taylor Rea.
“The Stayton pool and library are vital resources to our community that we cannot lose,” Rea posted. “The pool offers exercise and therapy for our community members, and more importantly, lessons to teach our children how to swim. The pool also houses several swim teams. Without the pool our schools may lose yet another important sport.”
After the levy failed, Mary Wallace said, “It’s so sad that a 5-cent per thousand increase was enough to shut down these resources that make Stayton such a wonderful place to live.”
Echoing those sentiments, Cindy McCollister posted, “Very sad changes are coming.”
Alternative options for Stayton pool users include: Albany Community Pool, Salem Kroc Center, Salem Courthouse, Silverton Pool, and the Mid-Willamette Valley YMCA in Albany.
For more information, contact the city at 503-769-3425.
