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Question and Answers

UTICA POOL PROJECTS Q & A

• Can we use sales tax dollars to pay back the bond?
  • Based on current sales tax figures, it would take approximately 50 years to fully repay the $2 million dollars bond.

• What is the term of the bond?
  • The term will be 20 years. After five years, the Village Board could recall the bond and refinance at a lower rate.

• Are there plans to reduce costs of the pool facility further?
  • We’ve already minimized the size and amenities to the fullest extent possible without building a pool similar to what we currently have. We are unable to add amenities later without compromising infrastructure.

• Would the new pool require more staffing? 
  • Yes, the operational needs of the new pool would require an increase in staffing. We currently need 3-4 on staff daily and the new facility would require 5-6. We have 7 guards hired for the 2024 season.

• What are the different depth levels?
  • 0-3 feet
  • 3-5 feet
  • 5-11 feet
  • Lap lanes are 25 feet long

• What will the new admission prices be for adults and kids, and how do they compare to other communities?
  • The pricing for the new pool will be comparable to surrounding communities with similar structures

• How much will it cost to heat the new pool?
  • Natural gas is estimated to be $603.00 per season.

• Are donations tax deductible?
  • Yes, donations are tax deductible when accompanied by a receipt from the Village of Utica. Donations can be made at the Village office, First Bank of Utica, or online at www.uticane.org  or https://otc.cdc.nicusa.com/Public2.aspx?portal=nebraska&organization=Village%20of%20Utica%20-%20Park%20and%20Pool. Additionally, grain donations at Farmers Cooperative and CVA are accepted, as well as qualified charitable contributions.
     
• How much could you potentially receive from grants?
  • There are funds ranging from $500,000 to $1 million that we will be applying for as well as other possibilities.
     
• What is the timeline for the project? Will there be a season without a pool?
  • The timeline for the project spans two years, allowing time to secure funding through grants. The goal is to avoid any season without a pool, assuming everything progresses as planned.
     
• How will you disseminate this information to individuals who don’t attend meetings or use social media?
  • We've conducted presentations at the senior center and have distributed informational mailers via every-door delivery.
     
• Are there any supply shortages anticipated?
  • Callaway, Nebraska, which is building a similar pool design set to open in May 2024, has not experienced any issues with construction or obtaining supplies, according to their village clerk. The construction company they've engaged has exceeded expectations.
     
• With the current water loss situation, are the Village residents paying for this water?
  • When the pool is first filled for the season the south well is used to fill it, so this is non-treated water. When backflushing or fresh water is needed, treated water is used. However the Village flushes hydrants with the same water so they could be looked at very similarly as far as do residents “pay for the water” vs do residents’ tax funds help pay to TREAT the water that is used.
     
• Has a renovation of the pool been considered versus a complete replacement?
  • Yes, a renovation was discussed and we have been advised that despite renovating, you’re still dealing with 60-year-old concrete. By drilling into that concrete, or making changes to the current concrete pour could compromise anything existing causing more issues down the road. Not to mention that it does not fix the issue of water loss we currently have. 
  • Andy Smith from Lamp & Rynearson (the company that has engineered and designed this pool) spoke to the type of piping used 60 years ago.  It has not proven to withstand decades of time. Even if we were to find and patch a leak, more would follow and could be a continuous problem.
     
• Is the homestead tax exempt figured into the evaluation?
  • Yes, this is figured into the bond repayment information.
     
• Why is this a $4,000,000.00 pool? Is it the right size for our community?
  • Inflation.  If we had looked at doing this 3-4 years ago we would be dealing with a completely different price tag. Other recent projects similar to ours have the same or similar cost.  This pool is an adequate size for our community.
     
• Does the village need funds for the second lift station?
  • In regards to the secondary lift station line going in, these funds were met by ARPA funding from the Village and County. For further inquiries, please visit or call the Village office.
     
• Will Centennial need a bond in reference to the old school?
  • In a conversation with Superintendent Ford, he did not foresee the need for a bond; however, this can always change due to unforeseen circumstances.
     
• Other than children, who will this pool service?
  • This pool will be accessible to our seniors with zero entry and stairs. We have an adult water aerobics group in the evenings that others would like to join but due to limitations getting in and out of the water, they cannot.  It will also service our local day camp and daycare providers.  We have many communities in our school district that will enjoy our new pool.
     
• Why is there no deadline for fundraising to be completed?
  • Actually, there is. We would have a 2 year window to raise funds. We say this because most grants require the project to be completed in 2 years.
     
• Will the Utica Parks and Pool Board continue to search out funding once they reach their goal of $2,000,000.00?
  • ABSOLUTELY!   As residents that also pay taxes, the ultimate goal is to get those numbers as low as we can get them. 
     
• Can the Village Board decide to end this project before any bond is issued?
  • Yes, if at any time the Village Board feels it necessary to end this project, they can do so before issuing bonus or accepting bids.
     
• What do you say to the people who don’t have kids and own business?
  • We need to invest in the future life of this community. If we don’t, it will become like the surrounding bedroom communities.  A village with amenities of all kinds will attract new people to become residents and they may be someone who wants to start a business on our Main Street. Do we need businesses in town? ABSOLUTELY!  But the scope of this board is our parks and pool.
     
• Who drafted the Resolution for the Village Board?
  • Brad Slaughter explained that a bond attorney drafted the Resolution the Village Board voted on a month prior to their vote. 
     
• How much bigger is the new design vs current pool?
  • The current pool is roughly 3,935 SF.  The new pool is 4,483 SF.  That is approximately 14% larger with an approximate 550 SF addition.
     
• Does a positive vote make it mandatory to take out bonds?
  • No - see email below On Friday, February 23, 2024 at 09:43:59 AM CST, Slaughter, Bradley <bslaughter@fnni.com> wrote:
    • A few minutes ago I sent out a detailed email addressed to all parties with some statutory language I thought would be helpful for the discussion. Hoping the details included would help to settle any misunderstanding regarding the election resolution.
    • Here is the summary of that email:
      • Section 17-950 of the Nebraska Revised Statutes authorizes cities of the second class and villages to issue bonds for the purpose of building swimming pools. The language of this statute provides that a Village Board is “authorized to issue bonds” for these purposes. It also provides, “No such bonds shall be issued until the question of issuing the same shall have been submitted to the electors” of the village and “unless at such election a majority of the electors voting on such proposition shall have voted in favor of issuing such bonds.” The resolution adopted by the Village of Utica only calls the election and complies with the required election statutes. There is nothing in the resolution that authorizes issuance of bonds. If the proposition is approved at the election, then the Village Board will have full authority under election, then the Village Board will have full authority under the statute to issue bonds of up to $4 million. It would exercise this authority by adopting an ordinance setting the amount of the bonds (which can be in any amount between $0 and $4,000,000) and setting the other terms. The statute does not set the specific terms for the bonds other than stating that the longest maturity may not exceed 20 years. Until the Village Board takes further action after the election, there is no basis to issue the bonds. If the expected project costs end up exceeding the authorized amount of the bonds or if the Village Board decides for some other reason not to go ahead with the project, the Board is free to do so. This flexibility is included in the ballot language by providing that the amount of bonds to be issued is “not to exceed” $4 million which is a range of $0 to $4 million.
         
      • In regards to the “Ad valorem” wording that is in reference to the valuation of all properties within the City limits of Utica. Essentially the bond would allow the Board to levy taxes on the full valuation of property within Utica. Which is how we gather that levy calculation we discussed at the meeting.
         
      • For example, say the vote passes and the Board issued $2million in bonds. The average annual payment was $160,000. The Board would have authority to levy the full amount required to make payment on those bonds. At the City’s current valuation that would be 25-26 cents. However, if over that 20 year period the Village’s valuation was to decrease, the City would still have that $160,000 payment annually. With a decreased valuation, the Board would then have to levy what is needed to pay the $160,000 debt service.-
      • Brad Slaughter, Managing Director, Public Finance, Northland Securities
         
      • Senator Jana Hughes & Wayne J. Bena Esq. The Deputy Secretary of State Elections Division stated that they have no reason to doubt or disagree with Brad's analysis of the statute and believe it to be true.
         
      • If you wish to read the email correspondence in its entirety, you may obtain a copy from the Village office during office hours.

• Was a feasibility study, economic impact study or anything done to evaluate the effect on the village residents of the tax increase or advisability of such a project?  If so, where is it?
  • No- these studies have not been done. We are not at that point yet. In order for these studies to be done, we need to know whether the community supports his project or not. These studies are very expensive and we don’t want to spend taxpayer money on studies if there won't be a project.  

• If construction and material costs increase 10% / year that would increase the pool cost around $400,000 / year from the date of the current proposal. If that is already built into the estimate, what % increase figure did you use?  
  • The construction cost estimate is based on surveying several trusted contractors who are constantly bidding similar work.  At the beginning of this year, we engaged those contractors for their opinion about the cost of your project if it were let near the end of this year.  $4,000,000 was the answer we received.  Regarding the 10% value, I don’t know the source of that.  In the public swimming pool business construction costs jumped during the pandemic by as much as 30% per year. That pricing has plateaued in the past year or so.  No one has a crystal ball, but historically, construction costs tend to follow the rest of the economy in the long run.  There is no indication that construction prices should increase by 10% during this year. -Lamp Rynearson
     
• Verbal statements have been made that “this Board will not issue more than $2 million in bonds.”  What written documentation is there to confirm this is actually the case? - This is the Board that passed the resolution to have this $4 million placed on the ballot.  - This Board may not be the one making the decision after the November election.
  • 2 of your current Village board trustees will remain on the Village board. Why would this Village board or any future Village board members choose to bond $4 million and raise their own property taxes 40%.  Answer is they wouldn’t.  If the Village board chooses to stop the project for any reason, they can create an ordinance that says they no longer have or need the authority to bond for said pool project. That will prohibit any further authority regarding this particular bond.

• Are you aware of any projects where the bids from contractors came in higher than the proposed cost estimates?  What happens then?   West Point Pool estimate $6.4 – Bid $7.4 million! 
  • If the project is bid and comes in over the budget, then the contractor, Village and engineer will engage in a “value engineering” exercise to modify the scope of construction and reduce the project cost to within budget.  Another delivery method should be available to the Village; Construction Manager at Risk. That is where the Contractor is hired, based on qualifications, and works with the Village and Engineer during the design process to manage the cost of construction to match the budget.  The collaborative effort of cost control is like the “value engineering” exercise mentioned above, but it is much more effective because the earlier that cost issues are identified in the design process, the better the solutions that can be implemented to control cost while still delivering the scope and scale of project originally presented to the community.  This process was successfully employed by Lamp Rynearson at Friend, Hebron, and McCook.  Each of these projects involved decisions during design to control costs, but the end product—in all three cases—was substantially the same as the early images presented to those communities. -Lamp Rynearson

• Where will the money come from for the increase in operation and maintenance costs?  Estimated to be in the $40,000 - $60,000 range. 
  • Current funding comes from the Village’s General Funds- Village of Utica.  For “apples to apples comparison”, the Engineer’s projections operations of $80,000 should be compared to the last four years of operation which averaged at $50,000 per year.  So, the difference is $30,000.  The Engineer’s projections do not include any revenue to offset cost.  The last four years numbers from the Village does not include a sinking fund account for future maintenance.  Future maintenance, estimated at $22,000/year by the Engineer for the proposed pool, are a reality if Village continues to operate a public swimming pool, whether the existing or the proposed facility.  If you consider the maintenance of the existing pool versus a new pool for any length of time (say 5 to 10 years), the cost of maintaining the existing pool would far exceed the cost of maintaining a new pool. - Lamp Rynearson

• What is the estimated increase and effect of operation, maintenance and labor cost over time, considering scheduled minimum wage increases and inflation? 
  • Staffing costs (which dominate the total cost of pool operation) will follow the cost of inflation and the market for attracting employees.  These costs may be offset by increasing the cost of admissions to also match inflation.  The cost of maintenance is a key driver for replacing the pool.  The cost of maintaining your existing pool will continue to increase over time until such time that it is not economically viable to repair.  Your pool is already decades old and is at that part of its usable life where maintenance needs and costs escalate.   A new pool on the other hand, only requires routine maintenance (such as pool painting, pump repair, etc.) for a couple decades before significant repairs start becoming necessary. - Lamp Rynearson

• How much has been received to date from fundraising, donations and grants?
  • As of the date of this print:
    • Concession Work: $1,989.49
    • Donations $1,533.76
    • Fundraising $6,971.33
    • Pledge by individual $10,000.00 
    • Totaling $20,494.58
       
• There are 2 “advisory” pool committee members.  Will they volunteer to contribute the same percent tax increase on their property that they are demanding of the Utica residents?

• This is a fairly personal inquiry from an individual made outside of any public meeting. If a resident truly wishes to pursue private financial purvey from these individuals they should do that on their own. We will not answer this for them. 

• Why not put a Splash Pad in Utica and use the York, Seward and Friend pools for other activities? Milford put in a Splash Pad for around $650,000.
  • While a splash pad is nice and we may see one in our park someday.  For those with limited mobility who may or may not utilize a motorized chair that can’t get wet, being able to have their body in water gives them time where they are no longer limited by a disability. We want this to be a benefit to everyone no matter their age or ability.

• Is it true that we will see a 12.8% increase in our 2024 property tax bill, even if this proposal doesn’t pass?  So we could be looking at an increase greater than 50%!
  • Although it is true that your county has made an increase in taxes. Keep in mind that your village board has no control over what other taxing entities do with valuations or bonds.  If you do not agree with this increase, you have every right to protest these taxes at the county level. The Village has left the levy the same for quite a few years while property valuations have increased. There is also the side of the school needing to issue bonds and that can be addressed with the school board at their meetings. There are multiple facets to your total property tax bill and educating yourself on these reasons is extremely beneficial to every homeowner.

• How much would it cost to replace the old pool with the same design that we currently have?
  • To replace the pool to match existing is roughly $3.3 million budgetary.

• What is the life expectancy of the new pool?
  • A  pool will generally last 50 to 60 years provided timely maintenance and repairs are completed. You can expect just routine maintenance for the first 10 to 20 years (maintenance replacement, pool, painting, minimum concrete patching if any) at about 20 to 30 years or so you should expect rehab and repairs (plumbing fixtures, more extensive patching of deck, filter, replacement, etc.) will start to become more common.

• What about the problems that York and Seward are having with their pools now?
  • York and Seward are both nearing 20 years since they opened their doors.  Some repairs will be expected after that long of being open as there is at most facilities.  (Think the appliances, water heater and furnace in your own home). York did have some issues in the first couple of years with their heater and so it was replaced sooner than it should have been in terms of a “typical” lifespan.  I don’t know details of Seward’s problems at this time.  I’m also not aware of what problems specifically you speak of for York/Seward.

• What about night swimming? Could this happen at the new pool?
  • The engineer said it would be easy enough to run conduit to where we would need to put lights.  This could be a phase 2 project. Lighting is not in the current budget.

• What is the average attendance of our current pool?
  • The Village clerk has determined the average daily attendance is 50.

• When the City of Friend and the City of Hebron got their new pool, did it increase their attendance?
  • According to the Hebron city clerk, their attendance and their event schedule tripled!

• What is the cost of demolition?
  • The prudent budgetary estimate for demolition is $70,000.  This is an estimate - there have been no bids asked for to-date.
• Why is the board asking for $4 million and not just $2 million?  Why should the community trust the board not to vote? Yes on all $4 million?
  • 1. It is incredibly important that those community members you elect to govern this village you know and trust. That's the responsibility of every registered voter!! The expectation of what the board would actually bond has been set and made incredibly clear to the sub-body of the village board that is responsible for Park and Recreation in the village. Knowing those members is also incredibly advantageous and these are also appointed positions that individuals volunteer for. 

• 2. Why would this Village board or any future Village board members choose to bond $4 million and raise their own property taxes 40%.  Answer is they wouldn’t.

• Will there be enough staff to be open full-time?
  • At this time we have not had any problems filling a “full staff” for our pool.  We actually have guards sharing their hours with other pools like Beaver, Seward and York simply because there aren't enough “spots” to fill daily in Utica for them to get the hours they want as a full time summer job.  We have also had to open late due to temperatures, maintenance issues and close early for maintenance issues which also cut into their predicted hours.  A new pool would hopefully note run into these kinds of problems and give them the hours they need.    

• How will the new pool benefit our daycare facilities?
  • The new pool will allow all daycares in our community access because of the zero entry.  Daycares with younger children will be able to enjoy the pool, which could count for more admissions.

The following statements have been circulated via email by Randy Stienhausen, to some residents, but interestingly, never emailed to the Park board for comment. Please find the comments of the park and pool board along with Village Board  member regarding these statements:

• Emailed statement: Donations, fundraisers and pledges have so far totaled less than $50,000.  Similar projects have generally generated less than $100,000.00 when all is said and done.
  • Park & Pool Comment: This has been raised only by small fundraising efforts, which is actually fairly impressive when you consider Randy’s statement that most only raise $100,000. This does not include door-to-door work, large corporate donations, or private donations that potentially could be received if the vote passes. 

• Emailed statement- Lamp Rynearson , the pool evaluator, engineer, promoter and advisor to the Pool Committee, advertises grant writing on their website. There has been no mention of the financial services they may provide or the dollars they can generate. However, they stand to benefit roughly one half million dollars from a project of this size and the bigger the better.
  • Park & Pool Comment:  This has been discussed, but until we actually award an engineer with this project, a lot of the behind-the-scenes work will not occur, with grant writing being one of them. 

• Emailed statement: There is no evidence to indicate that a pool of this nature will attract new business, generate revenue, or encourage growth.  The effects of this kind of tax increase only produce the opposite effect.
  • Park & Pool Comment:  The purpose of the pool is not solely based on attracting/generating new business. Rather, the attractiveness of the town and quality of life in the Village, which holds the potential to draw new families that may also start their own business.

• Emailed statement- No Feasibility Study, Economic Impact Study, Expense/Income Analysis, Comprehensive Parks & Recreation Evaluation, etc. has been presented, to substantiate the wisdom of proceeding with this project.  There is no evidence any of this has been done.
  • Park & Pool Comment:  This has already been addressed during the last park board town hall meeting. This is an incredibly costly study that the park board did not want to spend funds on until we knew the opinion of the village. Also, it is not really a study that you find in swimming pools often, but rather commercial or entertainment interests.

• Emailed statement- It will cost over $1,000.00/day to operate the pool for each day of the season, according to the ‘Detailed Expense Projections”, available at the Village office.
  • Park & Pool Comment: Was a request made to look at what we are already spending as a village to have a pool? What is the current operating cost? Also, this fails to take into consideration the amount of time that these requests have been costing our village clerk outside of her normal daily duties and the fact that this material that is being printed is not free. Many requests in the beginning were freely given as a courtesy.

• Emailed statement- Staffing is a major issue locally, regionally and nationally.  Pools in Utica, Friend, Star City Shores in Lincoln, just to name a few have closed on occasion and the shortage even forced two-thirds of Omaha’s outdoor swimming pools to close for half of the summer. 
  • Park & Pool Comment: Over the last few years, Utica has maintained an incredible group of young individuals to work and staff the pool. Are we perfect? No. Do we continue to strive to be better to look at ways to cultivate a community of swimmers rather than those that don't continue to better themselves? Absolutely!

• Emailed statement- No million dollar grant has ever been awarded in Nebraska to a village the size of Utica, for a swimming pool as a stand-alone project, that the Village could possibly hope to receive.
  • Park & Pool Comment:  So because it's never been done means we should never try? That's an odd thought,  I wonder how far civilization would be as a whole if we followed this mantra? Also, the park board has never said that they are planning on receiving a total “one million dollar, one time grant”, but rather seeking multiple grants and fundraising for a collective sum of up to 2 million dollars and more if possible.

• Emailed statement- Receiving a CCCFF Grant in any amount is near zero considering that the Village was denied a request for $210,000.00 towards a $420,000.00 Recreation Center project in 2022 from this, the Civic and Community Center Financing Fund.  These grants are highly competitive!
  • Park & Pool Comment:  Actual facts. The village did not receive funds because of the competitive nature of funding due to the restriction of funds from fallout of 2020. The village actually ranked fairly high in the applicants ranking structure and details can be made available. Also, it was not a “recreation center project” rather it was 2 separate projects, one the Community Foundation had designed. The second was the concession stands that are still actively being fundraised for the ball fields.

• Emailed statement- The only town to receive a CCCFF grant for a pool in the last three years was Waverly. A population of 4,600+ and a projected growth rate of 1.95% surely was considered in the decision. In the last 5 years, 34 total Construction Grants have been awarded, only 3 for Pool
  • Park & Pool Comment:  Actual fact: In 2020, 30 applications received, 7 planning applications awarded, 15 construction applications awarded. Total funds $5,397,778.00
  • In 2021, 13 applications received, 13 planning applications awarded, 0 construction applications. Total Funds: $168,000.00 
  • In 2022, 37 applications received, 5 planning applications awarded, 3 construction grants awarded. Total funds: $1,233,415.30
  • 2023 cycle was just awarded. The City of Hebron did receive a 500,000 CCCFF grant for their pool project that was quite successful. Minutes of their process are available.
  • It's interesting how when given the full panoramic view and not just the bird's eye view, the information becomes less distorted and more understandable.

• Emailed statement- Land and Water Conservation Fund – LWCF - Pools rank 6th out of 9 on their priority list.  1st are trails and bike paths, 3rd includes Splash Pads, 5th is fishing access. These grants are highly competitive and chances of receiving one should be considered zero.
  • Park & Pool Comment: This is one grant, and also riddled with an individual's opinion and not the stance or opinion of a representative from the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

• Emailed statement-  Seward County Bridges, affiliated with the SCCDP, provides fiscal management and grant writing assistance for projects across Seward County.  No indication of expected results from this nearby and affiliated source.
• Additional emailed statement: Seward County Bridges is a 501(c)3 organization affiliated with the Seward County Chamber and Development Partnership (SCCDP), provides fiscal management and grant writing assistance for projects and programs across Seward County. Nothing has been mentioned to indicate any help or expected results from this nearby and affiliated source.
  • Park & Pool Comment: Fact: It has been recently stated in a meeting that Bridges actually did not feel that they should be solely responsible for the grant writing of all of Seward County which is why there is discussion currently being held of other means to procure grant writing assistance.