We are even more hopeful there is a clear path forward to save the pool. There are two main issues: the operations costs and the deferred maintenance costs. We will break them down below:
Operations: Several groups had meetings with the Evergreen president and leadership, and the message was the same: Evergreen is willing to turn over management of the pool but with a price tag, Evergreen is requesting $250,000 a year from the community for operations costs.
Deferred Maintenance/Capital Costs: In addition to the operating costs, it is clear that there is deferred maintenance that needs to be completed. These costs are more than any single community can currently bear (no official price-tag has been assigned yet but likely in the millions). We need the legislature to fund these repairs through the capital budget in 2027 or another creative solution at the local, state or federal level.
What Next?
Nonprofit- We want to establish a non-profit 501(c)(3) to be able to take over operation of the pool as soon as possible. The sooner we do this, the lower the operations cost will be!
Coalition-Legislators, cities, schools, Evergreen leadership, students, staff and the aquatics community need to come together to build a coalition. Working together, we can bridge the short term operating costs, then work to secure capital funding for the deferred maintenance.
What Can you do?
Contact local leaders and ask them to work together as a coalition with the aquatics community. Ask state leaders to help with this coalition as well as with creative solutions to the deferred maintenance/capital costs.
Here are the primary decision makers:
Thurston County Commissioners - amy.davis@co.thurston.wa.us
Olympia City Council - citycouncil@ci.olympia.wa.us
Tumwater City Council - Council@ci.tumwater.wa.us
Port of Olympia - Commissioners@portolympia.com
Olympia School- osd-schoolboard@osd.wednet.edu
Our 3 state reps in LD-22
jessica.bateman@leg.wa.gov
lisa.parshley@leg.wa.gov
beth.doglio@leg.wa.gov
Or find yours here: https://leg.wa.gov/legislators/
Attend Port Commission meeting and make live public testimony: Monday, May 11th 4pm WE NEED 3 committed and able to attend please let us know you plan to speak!
626 Columbia Street NW, Olympia
Olympics Room, Suite 1-B
Help us with forming the 501(c)(3), those with expertise in this, please reach out to us!
Legal expertise
Experience creating nonprofits
Fundraising skills
Organizational skills/time
Thanks for your hard work and care for the community!
MARK YOUR CALENDARS:
CURRENT EVERGREEN POOL HOURS
Swimming is available EVERYDAY!:
7 AM - 8:45 PM OPEN SWIM
6:45PM-8:45PM DIVE WELL OPEN
https://www.evergreen.edu/student-life/recreation/pool
PACK THE POOL is May 12th 5:30-8 TESC Pool (drop in for a quick hello or stay the whole time!). This is also Coach Valz's birthday. RSVP for this event so staff are prepared, so please complete the form here: https://forms.gle/apJedzPYVREJD7vM8
It's a moment to show support for the pool, from the aquatics community and the Evergreen community there together for this event.(if you don’t RSVP still come but we cannot guarantee swim space).