Editor,

Not much has changed since last I served on the North Whidbey Parks and Recreation Board. My first term was immediately after the pool reopened after a failed levy and poor money management closed it. The district was in debt and almost every system in the building needed to be repaired or replaced.

With Bob Fraiser at the helm and a cohesive board, we set about getting our house in order. After four years we had everything back in order, paid off an outstanding loan, called the bond and re-issued one at a lower interest rate, established the park on Ault Field Road and had a little money in the bank. At that time I calculated that we were within $75,000 of operating in the black.

When I ran for reelection, a “swim team parent” ran against me. I lost and the rest is history. The pool can be run as a business or as a perk for the few who squeak the loudest.

The district needs to re-examine why the pool was built in the first place. There was a time when every Oak Harbor student had a short water safety, drown-proofing class. These kids, if not saved by that training were at least exposed to a healthy form of exercise.

To the current board, I say hold the line. The alternative is another pool closure.

Dave Thomas

Oak Harbor