Voters in Lamar, Missouri, are deciding the fate of the failing Lamar City Aquatic Center during this year's November 4 special election. The ballot measure is a half-cent sales tax increase to generate revenue for a complete remodel of the aquatic center.
If passed, the current 8.975 sales tax rate would increase to 9.475. Residents will pay $5 for every $1,000 spent within city limits. It would remain in effect for 30 years, creating $450,000 a year for renovations to the new aquatic center.
The measure would help cover the almost $4.5 million cost of completely reconstructing the center.
The current aquatic center has a competition pool, a leisure pool, and a splash pad. Various structural and piping issues have deemed the pool unusable since 2022.
The piping system in the leisure pools, in particular, needs attention. Repairing the piping system, in turn, requires surrounding systems such as the waterslide, electrical, subgrade, and concrete deck, to be repaired.
According to Lamar's Mayor, Michael Hull, the decision is the culmination of the past two years of deciding on the proper solution to the failing center.
Hall made fixing the center his priority after his re-election as mayor. The cost of the pool repairs surpassed the Parks and Recreation budget.
"Putting that half-cent tax proposal on a ballot gives the residents of the city of Lamar a voice and an option to have a new pool," added Hull.
There have been mixed reactions from Lamar residents.
According to Hull, some are willing to pay a little extra if it means having the pool back. Whereas, the other half of residents don't want extra taxes.
Residents like Debbie Little have advocated for fixing the pool instead of building an entirely new center. She serves as chairperson of the Lamar Pool Committee. According to her, parts of the aquatic center, like the indoor pool, are still viable. Completely demolishing the pool also puts the older Lamar population at a disadvantage. She said senior citizens needing some water therapy would benefit from the indoor pool.
The closure of the centers also decreased interest in youth and high school swimming. Little wants to create a safe and reliable place for parents to drop their kids off for swimming lessons and practice.
"We just, we're just really concerned about our youth in keeping them safe, active, and healthy," Little said.
According to Rives, this ballot measure is the most viable option.
"Not only does it create a funding source, which we have to have to operate it, but it also gives the community the voice, actually, to say what they want to happen," added Rives.
The exact plans for the new aquatic center are unknown. Rives said some residents want to return to a more straightforward style of pool compared to the current one. A preliminary concept showed a zero-entry pool, a competition pool, two waterslides, a bathhouse, and a splash pad.
City leaders want to hear what the public thinks about the rate increase proposal - they're holding a public information meeting on October 27.
If the measure passes, they'll first excavate the center and then solicit bids from construction companies.
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