Loogootee plans to build new city pool

By Tim Pinkham, T-H correspondent

November 11, 2008 09:39 pm

— LOOGOOTEE — Loogootee plans to build a new city pool by 2013, which would replace the current pool built in 1958.
The new pool was part of the five-year park and recreation master plan presented to the Loogootee City Council Monday night by Greg Jones, with the Southern Indiana Development Commission.
Jones said the state requires cities to prepare a new five-year plan every five years if they wish to remain eligible for state grants for their park and recreation departments. SIDC worked with the four-member Loogootee Park Board to complete the plan.
On Nov. 5, the park board unanimously approved the five-year plan.
Survey results showed swimming was the top recreation activity enjoyed by the public during the last year, followed by (2) hiking, walking or jogging, (3, tie) playground use and fitness activities, (4) camping, (5) court sports and (6) baseball/softball.
Public input concerning the city’s park and recreation system was gained through a survey, which was answered by 135 females and 69 males. They ranged in age from teenagers to the upper 70s.
The park board met twice in July to prioritize a list of projects for the city’s park system. A public meeting was held Aug. 4 at City Hall.
Copies of the draft master plan were placed at six locations in the city for two weeks to garner additional public comments. More than 85 percent of those responding said they thought the priorities and actions for the next five years were satisfactory.
The city pool and the skateboard park, built in 2004, are adjacent to each other. A block away is City Park, which features playground equipment, 27 picnic tables, two shelterhouses, three horseshoe courts and two volleyball courts.
Fountain Park, built in Loogootee’s center square in the early 1970s, has three park benches, a fountain, flag pole, millennium memorial plaque and millennium memorial clock.
Both elementary schools and Loogootee High School have basketball courts and other recreational facilities.
The five-year plan also summarizes the recreational opportunities elsewhere in Martin County, including West Boggs Park, Hindostan Falls State Fishing Area and Martin State Forest.
Mayor Don Bowling pointed out the survey showed more than 90 percent of respondents rated the city’s recreational facilities as fair, good or excellent. He said this was “surprising” considering the population of Loogootee and the city’s limited budget.
This year, the operating budget for the Park and Recreation Department was $50,000, all from tax revenues.
The five-year plan also included demographic information about Loogootee and Martin County. The city had an estimated population in 2006 of 2,670, down from the 2000 census of 2,741. The median age is 40.6 and the population is 99 percent Caucasian. It is about evenly split between males and females.
In other business
Loader/backhoe
A divided city council voted 3-2 to purchase a new loader/backhoe from Hopf Equipment for a net cost of $16,630. The purchase price of $81,630 is offset by a trade-in of $65,000.
The present warranty of the machinery had expired April 24, while the new equipment will again be under warranty.
Voting in favor of the purchase were Rich Taylor, Phyllis Parker and Joe Mattox. Those opposed were Rick Norris and Susan Brewer.
“I know the money’s there, but we don’t have to buy something new all the time,” Brewer said.
Norris asked why city employees didn’t do some maintenance on the equipment rather than have the city pay for repair bills.
Fire Station addition
The council unanimously accepted the low bid of $31,255 from Graber Post to build an addition to the city’s southside fire station. Fire Chief Terry Pielmeier said the addition would provide cover for some fire protection vehicles presently left out in the elements.
Pielmeier said he believed Graber Post “cut us a discount” on its bid “because we spent a lot of time out there a couple years ago saving that business” during a major fire.