COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Coldwater Mayor Tom Kramer and Coldwater Community School District Board of Education President Doctor Ed Lake are scheduled to present a plan to Branch County Commissioners during their work session on Thursday morning to help fund the debt ridden Doctor Robert W. Browne Aquatic Center.
The red ink has been flowing freely in recent years to the point where the facility’s future is in serious financial jeopardy.
Several proposals will be presented to the Commissioners. They include an annual $125,000 payment from the Robert Browne Trust to Coldwater Schools and a pledge from the trust to fund up to $1-point-1 million of needed repairs to the Aquatic Center.
The City of Coldwater would also make a $25,000 payment into a sinking fund managed by Coldwater Schools for future major repairs. This would be in addition to the $50,000 the City already contributes to the school district to allow City residents to receive a lower rate to use the Aquatic Center.
In addition, the city and the school district would provide funds to hire a dedicated aquatic director to run and promote the facility.
Branch County Government will be asked to make an annual $25,000 payment that would go into a sinking fund managed by Coldwater Schools for future major repairs in return for a uniformed rate for all County residents at both the Aquatic Center and City of Coldwater recreational services.
A citizens committee would also be established which would provide guidance, direction and monitoring of the aquatic director.
With our little town growing by the hour we should be able to find funding for the Aquatic Center. Just like we find funding for all the other projects around town. I suggest that the Aquatic Center be promoted more. Some people in Coldwater don’t even know it exists. It is a great place to exercise, meet new friends, not to mention learning to swim. I also think it would be great to add a work out center much like a YMCA. All of us need to be in better shape.