Sibley, Iowa — The Osceola County Aquatic Center Committee is getting closer and closer to their goal of “filling it up,” and another fundraiser is planned to push them in that direction.
We talked with Kim Vander Sloot, who’s on the committee. She tells us that in addition to the pool needing aesthetic updates, it’s also losing water and chemicals due to leaks, which means the City of Sibley is losing money.
A liner had been discussed as a separate option, but Vander Sloot says the liner is now part of the aquatic center plans.
She says the Sibley City Council has agreed to bond for $1 million after the Aquatic Center Committee raises $500,000. According to Sibley City Clerk Wendy Ewoldt, the Sibley City Council is considering whether to use a reverse referendum and do the project as urban revitalization or if they will put a ballot issue to the voters, since they would be using general obligation loan notes.
In addition, Vander Sloot says the Osceola County Board of Supervisors voted earlier this month to give $50,000 toward the project in $5,000 annual increments. She says the committee is getting closer to the half-million-dollar goal.
She says they’ve had several fundraisers in the years that they have been trying to get the half-a-million together.
She says that fundraiser will be during Sibley’s Good Ole Summertime festivities, and all ages are welcome and encouraged to attend.
Vander Sloot says that after the initial half million is raised, the final selections will have to be made and plans will have to be drawn up by city officials, engineers, and others. She says she’s not sure what kinds of toys and water features the aquatic center will have, but she gives us the basics.
She says at last report, work was still scheduled to begin this year.
