The last public pool in Adams County is about to close, and a group of Littlestown residents are trying to save it.
“I’m stepping up for this community,” Kathleen Ednie, a two-year Littlestown resident, told the Council. “If we don’t try, we won’t know,” she added.
Resident Clifton Biddle said historically, the pool was developed with funds donated by Dr. Howard Stonesifer and opened in June 1968. “It was a gift to the community.” The family left a second donation of $500,000 in 1985 to maintain the pool.
He asked why the Council did not bring the pool issue to the community. “Something this important should have been announced. There should be a public forum to allow people to talk about it.”
The decision to close the 60-year-old pool was made at the December borough council meeting. Karen Louey, a Littlestown resident who was investigating the cost of running the pool, met with the YMCA, which currently manages the pool, and Borough Manager Charles Kellar. Her report to the Council contained concerns regarding pool management, such as procuring staff and meeting new state regulations and child labor laws. In addition, it was reported that the pool needed significant upgrades such as pumps, repairs to tiles and plaster, equipment, and fence replacement.
The YMCA had to increase the daily rate to $15 to meet the operating costs and announced this year it was no longer interested in managing the aging facility. A motion was made to decommission the pool safely, and it was approved.
Ednie called the price unreasonable, especially if families have three or four children. “It’s just too much money. You’re pricing yourself out.”
Councilmember Brent Sheely, a lifetime resident of Littlestown who grew up enjoying the pool every summer, said, “I’m sorry to see where it’s at, but times are changing.” He said repairs needed, the state regulations for such a facility, and the difficulty in getting staff were all reasons the Council decided to close the pool permanently.
“The pool was never meant to be a money maker,” said council member Betty Bucher, who sat on the original committee to create the pool in the mid-1960s. “It was meant to be self-sufficient and not be a burden on the council or the community.” She added that the continual decline in membership and losing the YMCA as pool management also led to the decision.
“We welcome you to explore,” Council President Craig Rosendale said, “but it’s not in our budget to run this pool, so more than building a new one, there would have to be a legal entity to run it. The borough will not do it.”
“This is just a starting point,” Ednie said. “We want to know that people care.”
She later added that there are about 100 people who have signed a petition to stop the pool from closing. And a Facebook page, Save the Littlestown Pool, is available for those who want to know more.
The Council agreed to give Ednie and her committee a place on a future borough agenda for a presentation in favor of retaining the community pool.
Zoning change approved
In other Council business, a zoning proposal to change 6.3 acres of land from a low-density residential district to an industrial employment zone was approved despite public concern expressed at the December 12 meeting. Residents were worried that the rezoning of the property, owned by Northeast Pallet, would change the nature of the existing residential area with increased noise, traffic, and stormwater drainage. The matter, tabled at the December meeting, was passed with one abstention by Brent Sheely and one nay vote by David Westcott.
The Borough Authority asked to table two Equivalent Dwelling Unit (EDU) requests until more data regarding potential water and sewer usage can be reviewed. An EDU is a unit of measure of water and sewer flows for a single-family resident household. The requests were made for 102 Boyer Street and 681 Basehoar School Road.
A third Borough Authority request to reconsider stormwater management for Gerrick Overlook resulted in no change from the Council. Borough Solicitor Todd King said the developer is requesting to reconsider allowing stormwater to discharge onto borough property, where it currently flows in a natural progression. The developer must provide stormwater discharge to flow the development’s property according to current regulations. Councilmember David Westcott said he did not want to reconsider, and the other council members agreed.
A suggestion to create a separate council meeting room in the back of the library has been tabled. Councilmember Bucher suggested that instead of creating space in the library, which does not have adequate parking, the Council should consider adding on to the borough office.
Resident Suzanne Johnson asked the Council to consider live-streaming its meetings. “It would open the meeting to more residents who can’t attend,” she said, adding that doing so would bring more transparency and community involvement. Council President Rosendale agreed to look into the situation for future consideration.
Later, Johnson asked Borough Manager and Borough Police Chief Charles Kellar for information regarding response times for police within the borough and how many incidents are called in from the school district. She referred to a recent request by the Littlestown Area School District for a School Resource Officer.
“People don’t realize how much we are there,” Kellar said regarding calls from the school. He called the school resource officer “an excellent program with many benefits for the district.”
At a LASD work session in January, the board discussed the cost of hiring an SRO. The price quoted to them by the Borough Police for a three-year SRO contract was over $400,000, which concerned several school board members.
Kellar assured Johnson that the proposal offered by the borough police did not contain “inflated numbers” and agreed to provide data for her to review regarding the issue.
Judith Cameron Seniura is a freelance reporter. She began her journalism career in the early ‘70s and has written for newspapers, magazines, and other media in Ontario, Canada, Alaska, Michigan, Nebraska, San Antonio, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.
The article says that it is the last pool of its kind in Adams county ? In what way ? Because it is a public pool ? I also do not understand why it can not be maintained ? That is implying that it wasn’t maintained very well in the past ? Where else can children go to swim ? Is there a private pool they can go to ? How much do they charge ? Seems like the children are not given any option to swim, anywhere. That is just not right, children need a place to learn,to burn… Read more »
That’s what we’re thinking too Jim. This may be a long shot, but we certainly can’t just let the council close it without the community coming together to try and save it. Please feel free to join our Facebook page Save the Littlestown Pool. There’s also a link to sign the petition.