There has been a lot of talk around town of a new outdoor swimming pool for Big Sandy.

It started in the Big Sandy City Council where a new pool has been on the agenda for the last three months. When asked about it, Mayor Stiles is saying that there are groups and individuals around Big Sandy who are interested in a new pool.

So, interested, in fact that when the city asked Rotary to fund a feasibility study, they did just that and probably that study is going on at the present time.

The cost of the study is $4200.00 said Rotary member Bob Nelson. That would include a location for the pool and what the cost would be for building it.

"It would be better on a lot by the elementary school," said Superintendent Moore. It would have trees around it, concessions nearby and other amenities to complement it."

There is a large problem with locating a pool in that area. It is that there are some large water table issues over there. Both Nelson and Moore said that a feasibility study would say soon enough if that area could be utilized.

However, the school has land by the high school that could be used as well for a new pool.

One way or another, if there is to be a new pool in Big Sandy; it would look like it would be on School District Property.

Moore said that the Board of Trustees is supportive of the efforts to look at a new pool and recognize it would be a huge benefit to the school.

Bob Nelson thinks that swimming lessons are great in these prairie communities where people sometimes do not learn to swim and that not learning to swim can lead to terrible tragedies.

Nelson thinks that is the reason for a feasibility study, to determine, among other things, the best place for a new pool.

One thing that caused some people to begin thinking of a new pool is the very active swim team in Big Sandy at this time.

"The present pool is too short for regulation meets," said Nelson. "In addition the present pool is older and getting toexpensive to maintain."

Both Nelson and Moore said that funding for a new pool would not come from fund raising efforts.

"There will be some public meetings quite soon now that will tell us how the community feels about a new pool," said Moore. "We will know after them if we should continue on. The pool would be funded by a levy amount on local taxes.

"Put it to a vote," said Nelson. "If it passes it is paid for and if not passed we know it wasn't right for this time in Big Sandy."

As the snow swirled around last week, Nelson laughed and said, "Plant the seed in dry ground."