Apr 30, 2019 4 min read

A Peters Township Council public hearing on whether to build an aquatic center in the near future revealed a nearly even split among residents who took the opportunity to comment.

Plans call for a complex of outdoor water features to be built at the former Rolling Hills Country Club site, where the township is developing a public park. The cost estimate for the aquatic center is nearly $11 million.

“The real question is not whether a pool should be incorporated into the park,” township manager Paul Lauer said. “The question that we’re trying get input on is: Is now the time to do it?”

Many of the residents who took part in Monday’s hearing at Peters Township Middle School, though, expressed opposition to the township embarking on such a project at any point.

“I feel that it’s limited use. It will only get used three months out of the year. It’s going to cost the taxpayers a lot of money,” said Diane DiSalle of Robinhood Lane.

Several subsequent speakers echoed DiSalle’s opinion.

Others spoke in support of the project, including Jeff Crummie, vice chairman of Peters Township Parks and Recreation Board.

“We unanimously agree that the aquatic center should be built in the first phases of the park,” he told council. “Every time we have surveyed this community, the No. 1 item requested was a water facility, a swimming pool.”

Supporters perceived benefits of the project such as providing a place for teaching children how to swim and gather in a healthy environment.

A township pool would also serve as an alternative to private pools, which tend to have waiting lists for membership. Also, the cost of the project would be less now than in the future.

Building an aquatic center is an integral part of a master plan for the township’s half of the former Rolling Hills property. Peters Township School District is constructing a new high school on the other half.

“It provides a well-thought-out plan for the future development of the park, but it is not cast in stone,” Lauer said. “It only comes into play when council commits funds through the budgeting process to make it a reality.”

A poll of council members during a March workshop session showed a split opinion on whether to proceed with an aquatic center in the initial phase of developing Rolling Hills Park. Regardless of its inclusion, the township plans to borrow money to implement some facets, such as building access roads and a connection to the nearby Arrowhead Trail.

The township has received a grant for the trail project and plans to use other sources of funding, including local traffic impact fees, in addition to borrowing.

According to information presented at the hearing, the debt service on covering the costs of the initial phase, aquatic center included, would represent the equivalent of a real estate tax increase of 0.2 mills.

“That is not to say that if the township goes ahead with the project that your taxes will go up two-tenths of a mill,” Lauer said. “If that were the only source of revenues used, it represents the maximum amount the tax increase would be.”

At that amount, the tax increase would be $67.28 for the average Peters Township property owner, and the median would be $58.60.

Whatever the decision about the aquatic center, it rests solely with elected officials.

“The home-rule charter of Peters Township doesn’t permit capital projects to be submitted to a referendum,” said Frank Kosir Jr., council chairman. “Because it’s a capital project, the determination has to be made by council.”