As election day draws near, Worthington voters will be asked to vote on a property tax increase to build a new outdoor pool based on SwimInc’s plan and recommendations. Much has been said and reported about the tax increase request, and about the management MOU between the city and SwimInc, but some questions remain unanswered.
I am in a unique position, having served on city council and on the city’s pool task force. Perhaps some of this information below will be helpful to the public in making an informed decision. I am supportive of the pool, but think the way city council (with SwimInc’s direct involvement) ended up asking voters for a tax increase is irresponsible.
Remaining Questions
1. What will the membership rates be?
2. What if the pool property tax levy fails?
3. What is the anticipated revenue of the proposed event space?
4. Why is falsifying American Red Cross documents considered a "minor violation"?
5. Did the state know about the Executive Director was 'double dipping' the state funds for 'consulting' while pulling in a healthy SwimInc salary (totaling approximately $200,000)?
6. Why did the Task Force immediately dismiss the idea of spending $4M to upgrade the mechanicals to keep the pool operational for 10-15 years?
7. Why did the city council approve an MOU agreement announcing SwimInc as the pool operator without a competitive public bid process?
8. How did SwimInc come up with the design proposal and how will that impact the actual build if the levy passes?
9. What is the historic timeline of everything?
Context and information about the questions are below.
1. What will the membership rates be?
No one has been able to answer this. Neither city council nor SwimInc has provided any indication that membership rates will be lower than they are today.
In a good plan to ask voters for tax money, the projected rates should be publicly available. Since they are asking for public dollars to support the improvements, the pool should be truly public and membership rates should be more affordable than they are today.
Additionally, the proposed concept will decrease recreational pool space by approximately 10%, and a ‘middle’ pool that won’t be usable for most smaller children or novice swimmers.
Read SwimInc’s former Board President comments about the pool concept here.
2. What if the pool property tax levy fails?
Bonnie Michael and Rebecca Hermann continue to promote the idea that we need to pass this tax increase or else the pool will permanently close. This is simply not true.
Yes, the pool needs some mechanical and physical upgrades to remain functional. This can be accomplished even if the tax levy fails.
The city surplus is approximately $25M. The city already committed $4M of this surplus to fund a portion of the new construction.
Since the public clearly supports having an outdoor pool, the city could easily fund the $4-$5M mechanical upgrades to keep the pool functional for 10-15 years. They can also fund the ADA upgrades and improvements to the bathrooms.
Once this is achieved (as soon as 2025), the city can then begin to conduct their own analysis and public outreach of what the community wants and needs in an outdoor pool. The city could easily manage a public process that leads to construction design documents. None of this has occurred.
If the city decides it does not want to absorb the outdoor pool under the city operations, they can consider alternative options like a Joint Rec District.
The school district was not interested in entering into a Joint Rec District the past few years, but is more likely to enter into a Joint Rec District in 2026 once their next school levy is voted on.
The Joint Rec District members would be accountable to our elected officials on the school board and city council. In some cases, Joint Rec District members can be elected directly by the voting public. It’s possible that the Joint Rec District could ask for a pool tax levy in the future, but the tax burden would be spread among 25,000 households in the school district vs. 6,500 households in the city.
3. What is the anticipated revenue of the proposed event space?
No one has been able to forecast these numbers. This seems irresponsible as a big reason some council members like the new construction plan is because it includes revenue-generating event space that can help pay for capital improvements in the future.
Let’s say the event space can bring in $1,500 profit each Saturday, Sunday, and one day during the week for the entire year. That totals $234,000 per year in revenue. Though that’s a generous assumption, that’s $4.6M over 20 years. Though a considerable amount, it’s still not enough to make the pool capital improvements self-sufficient. This means voters will be likely be asked for a renewal levy in 20 years.
Plus, the general public will not be able to access the event space while it is rented out.
This tax increase is not simply for 20 years. It’s likely a perpetual tax.
4. Why is falsifying American Red Cross documents considered a "minor violation"? And what led to the falsification?
When the Ohio AG’s office accused me of falsifying documents, two members of our community demanded my resignation from Council and the CIC board. Even though the AG’s office found NO falsification or misuse, these two community members still impugned my ability to hold positions.
Now, the director of SwimInc actually did falsify documents, and those same two community members are saying it is no big deal. Falsifying documents is a big deal. The SwimInc board, city council, and staunch proponents of the tax levy are looking the other way.
5. Did the state know about the Executive Director was 'double dipping' the state funds for consulting' while pulling in a healthy SwimInc salary (totaling approximately $200,000)?
I have no insights here…simply asking the question.
6. Why did the Task Force immediately dismiss the idea of spending $4M to upgrade the mechanicals to keep the pool operational for 10-15 years?
Read my article here.
7. Why did the city council approve an MOU agreement announcing SwimInc as the pool operator without a competitive public bid process?
Council Members Rebecca Hermann and Katy Brewer stated they “trust” SwimInc to operate the pool, feeling comfortable enough to circumvent a typical competitive bid process. Normally with public-owned facilities, similar to the cleaning and janitorial services provided at the city-owned recreation center, an RFP would be published and service providers would submit proposals.
For the outdoor pool, I could foresee an RFP including things like:
1. Proposed membership rates and day pass rates
2. Plan to set aside funds for capital improvements
3. History of achievement
4. Any accreditation issues, or other issues
5. Proposed need for subsidy from city funds to reduce membership or support operations
The city did none of this with SwimInc leading up to the MOU to engage them and putting a levy on the ballot.
Though I agree with the city it is preferable for a third-party operator to manage the pool, the city does have the funds to absorb the pool operations if needed. Much like the rec center operations, the rec department tries to make up the operational costs with fess. But a portion still comes from the general fund to cover the difference. The current city budget surplus is approximately $25M.
8. How did SwimInc come up with the design proposal and how will that impact the actual build if the levy passes?
In 2019 to early 2020, SwimInc solicited proposals from consultants to develop conceptual plans for a new pool. Due to the pandemic, it was put on hold until early 2023, when SwimInc awarded the consultant with part of the state grant (from 2016). The goal was to complete the conceptual plans by June 2023 or SwimInc would risk losing the remaining state grant money. The SwimInc executive director was the main point of contact for creating the consultant’s scope of work and directing the consultant’s activities to create a new pool concept. According to the consultants at the June 2023 task force meeting, they were never asked to consider what the cost would be to upgrade the current facility to keep it functional. When I pressed this issue, the consultants stated it would take $4-$5M to upgrade the mechanicals and walls of the current outdoor pool.
The consultant’s plan is not a design document. It is a concept with estimated values of construction.
If they levy passes, the city will likely use the concept plan as the basis for the construction design documents. It will require some working through and tweaking the new pool features and sizes.
If the levy fails, nothing changes.
The city will likely use the concept plan as the basis for the construction design documents. It will require some working through and tweaking the new pool features and sizes.
Alternatively, the city could use elements of the conceptual plan to solicit bids for a design firm to create a new pool design.
In the alternate scenario, there would naturally be more public input incorporated into the new pool design.
9. Below is a historic timeline from SwimInc and SwimInc’s VP. I added some dates in purple based on my own interactions and experiences.
2000 SwimInc begins heating outdoor pools
Structural, heading and ventilation improvements to indoor pool
2005 SwimInc installs UV-light sanitation for indoor pool
2007 Community picnic shelter built
2011 Lagoon and splash pad built
2012 Indoor floor improvements
2016 State awards $1M capital grant for planned renovation project
City forgives $105,000 debt from 1996 loan
2016
SwimInc forecasts a request of $1M from the city and $1M from the schools, giving them $3M of the $4.6M needed to upgrade the failing mechanicals.
2017
School district works on School Facilities Master Plan and does not want to contribute $1M to SwimInc.
City is still waiting for a formal request from SwimInc, and concurrently starts exploring a Joint Rec
District to take ownerhip and funding of the pool
2018 Facility inspection/CIP and Vision Planning initiated
2019 Celebrating 65 years of operations
May 2022
Rachael Dorothy joins SwimInc board
05/2022 - 05/2024
Affected classes subject to the American Red Cross investigations took place
November 2022
Voters pass school district tax levy to build new High School (among other construction). Included in this levy was funding to build a new indoor pool.
January 2023
SwimInc re-engaged consultant (Brandstetter) to begin new pool concept
April 2023
City Council appoints Pool Task Force (Bonnie Michael, Rebecca Hermann, Doug Smith) to work with staff and SwimInc representatives and the school district to determine options for city involvement.
May 2023
Task Force met with school district representatives to determine if they would be open to a Joint Rec District or financially supporting the outdoor pool. School district said no to financial support and it would be at least three years to entertain creating a Joint Rec District.
SwimInc forecasts receiving three options for a new pool, provided by the consultant
June 2023
Task Force met with SwimInc and Consultants. Consultants present the three options.
Doug Smith asks what it would take to keep the pool operational for the next 10-15 years. Consultant says $4-$5M, which is consistent with almost-request from 2016/2017.
At the city council meeting, Bonnie Michael states a property tax increase is the only way to keep the pool open.
June 2023
Rachael Dorothy leaves SwimInc board to run for council, and subsequently becomes President of Council (January 2024).
July 2023
Task Force discusses conducting a public survey and subsequently brings it to city council. Council approves staff to engage with survey firm.
September 2023
Public survey launched
October 2023
Public survey results reported to Council
03/2024
Restructuring of staff positions including the elimination of and reduction in force of the Director of Aquatics position and employment
05/13/2024
New Director of Operations hired
06/21/2024
Communication with Red Cross initiated by Swiminc Director of Operations
07/05/2024
Swiminc Director of Operations formally notified that an audit of course records would occur
07/10/2024
Employment of the former Director of Instruction ends
July 15, 2024
City Council approves ballot language for property tax increase to build new outdoor pool
Council Member Robinson was the only 'no' vote.
07/06/2024 - 08/09/2024
Swiminc, under new Director of Operations, conducts complete retraining of lifeguard staff at risk of losing certification
09/09/2024
placing the former Swiminc Director of Swim School on observation and revoking its Instructor Agreement with the former Swiminc Aquatics Director
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