GCC board votes against pool

By TOM STANKARD

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Ironwood Township - A large crowd came to Gogebic Community College to support the pool, but they didn't leave happy.

After much debate, the GCC Board of Trustees approved the college budget for the 2015-16 school year, keeping the pool closed, while exploring the possibility to lease the pool to Snowflake Aquatics for $1.

Several audience members expressed interest in keeping the pool open.

Ceci Aho, Barracuda Swim Team coach, said running a pool shouldn't cost so much.

GCC President Jim Lorenson said the yearly operating costs is approximately $70,000, but it's expected to rise to $88,000.

Aho said she spoke to schools in Marquette and said it costs them, at most, $79,000 per year, including an aquatic director at $45,000.

In agreement, John Klyder, Ironwood, said he operates a hotel pool and wonders why it costs so much.

"I want to see what some of these numbers are," he said. "Are we buying gold-plated bromine and chlorine?"

Melissa Nieman, Northwoods Young Men's Christian Association aquatic director, said she's been operating a pool larger than GCC's for $45,000 per year.

Then, Nieman said most students are unaware there is a pool on campus

"I went to GCC and the only reason I knew there was a pool was because I used to swim in it," she said. "There were no posters saying 'open swim.' You can't say there are no options for students."

Barbara Gibbons said she agrees the college's objective is the students and the Lindquist Student Center is supported by the community.

Greg Miller, of Bessemer, said the pool is for the common good and the board should lease it for $1.

Lorenson spoke about the college's pool and the budget.

After much debate, the Gogebic Community College Board of Trustees agreed to explore the possibility of leasing the pool.

Lorenson said he recommends the board close the pool and look at alternate uses of the facility, possibly for student programs and other instructional facilities.

According to GCC, the college's general fund parameters include revenues, such as 42 percent state aid, 42 percent tuition and fees, and Gogebic County milage at 13 percent.

Lorenson said enrollment is down 8.5 percent this year, and health insurance costs are up 11 percent. Lorenson said these numbers result in a $705,000 deficit. To reduce the deficit, Lorenson said the college made several efforts to balance the budget. With deficit reductions, Lorenson said the budget will be balanced, but reduce the fund balance by $50,000.

After hearing the public's comments, board member Robert Burchell made a motion to approve the budget, but amend the motion to keep the pool open through April 2016, but cap expenses.

"It would buy time to get a plan together," he said.

Board members all agreed to approve the budget, but expressed alternatives for the pool. After debating, the board approved the budget, closing the pool, and authorized administration to research negotiation leasing the pool to Snowflake Aquatics for $1.

In other action, Michaela Pearlberg, a Hurley native, was approved for the position of counselor. Pearlberg, a GCC alum has bachelor's degree in social work form University of Wisconsin-Superior and a Master's Degree in social work from University of Minnesota-Duluth. She has several years of work-related experience, according to GCC.

The trustees also approved a resolution originating from "omnibus" appropriations act for 2013-14.

The act requires a condition of receiving its state appropriations that a community college report on its success in achieving five best practices in three different categories: economic development and, or, business industry partnerships, educational partnerships and community services.