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Anglers vs. swimmers at Munson Street Bridge, Le Roy

By Billie Owens

Anglers on the Munson Street Bridge (also known as the Red Bridge) in the Town of Le Roy are complaining that some swimmers have shown up, thereby impinging on their afternoon fishing enjoyment. Law enforcement is called to handle the matter.

doug smith

i was there myself fishing with my 5 yr old grandson.....
when about 4 children showed up with there parants.....and the kids did swim right next to us and others fishing also......

i was surprised parants let these kids swim right next to us casting our lines......

well before i knew it my grandson joined in the the kids swimming too......i didnt thank it was a good idea
with all the broken glass and busted fishing lines all over the place......so we pulled him out and called it a day......

on the way home i told my wife would be nice if the pool was open for the kids to go swimming in.....

by the way my grandson caught 2 fish.....bass and a sunny......good day at red bridge

Jul 9, 2011, 11:24pm Permalink
bud prevost

Lorie, even if we decide the community pool should be rehabilitated and available for public use, that will never stop kids from swimming in the creek or the quarries.
Fellow Leroyans, I am going into this conversation with an open mind. I hope other citizens will attend the village board meeting on Wednesday night. For anyone opposed to re-opening the pool, I would STRONGLY recommend you attend. The supporters will be there in full voice, opponents should take advantage of the same opportunity. Please don't be silent. It's to everyone's benefit that both sides of the issue be heard. In a democracy, the majority rules.

Jul 10, 2011, 12:05pm Permalink
C. M. Barons

We silently abide the trillion + dollars spent on wars in Iraq and Afghanistan (despite an overwhelming sentiment to withdraw) yet fuss over a few thousand to allow kids a safe swimming opportunity. What was it that Dwight Eisenhower warned?

Jul 10, 2011, 1:56pm Permalink
John Roach

One difference is that the wars are run on borrowed money in an unbalanced budget. They can't do that locally and the pool will have to be payed for with LeRoy property taxes and/or user fees.

It's too late in the season to do much about the pool this year, but lets hope they put the issue on the ballot in November and settle this once and for all.

Jul 10, 2011, 4:25pm Permalink
C. M. Barons

...Can't fix the pool on borrowed money, John? Are you unfamiliar with municipal bonds? $400,000- one-hundred dollars apiece or half-that if you include the town. With a twenty-year bond: it's about a fin per village resident to keep the pool open.

Jul 10, 2011, 4:55pm Permalink
John Roach

CM, Didn't make it clear enough. The Feds can borrow and borrow and not balance a budget. Municipalities can not do that. They can borrow, but they have to pay it back. And that comes from local taxes, which is fine if they want that. That's why I hope they put it up for a vote in November.

Jul 10, 2011, 5:37pm Permalink
Mark Potwora

CM feds dollars shouldn't be spent to build local swimming pools..If Leroy taxpayers want to that it thats a whole nother thing..Why do you try to tie this to what the federal government does......Maybe taxpayers in Leroy don't want this thing..And the point i make is taxpayers....Not renters of property..

Jul 10, 2011, 5:48pm Permalink
Jennifer Keys

Aren't renters tax payers?

I'm assuming landlords use a portion of the rent they collect to pay their property taxes. I'm also assuming renters consume where they live which means they are paying sales tax which helps to fund public projects.

Bud, I agree that people will probably continue to swim wherever even with the pool, but it seems to me that without the pool they have no other recourse on a hot day. I'm again assuming that people who can't afford their own pool also can't afford air conditioning.

Of course, I could be wrong. You know what they say about assume.

My husband and I put one of those pools you can by at the local discount store up last year. You know, the ones made of rubber that the ring rises in as you fill it with water. To bring it up to code cost us 4 times the original price of the pool. I'm just saying, it's an expensive venture to even put in a "cheap" pool.

Due to unforseen circumstances concerning the primary proponent of the pool the ultimate discussion that includes the community proposal has been postponed until August 10. However, as many here know, there are not currently enough votes on the board in support of opening the pool, so if you, as a resident, are in support of it you may think it wise to attend both Village Board meetings this month to ensure that the community proposal is heard next month.

It's always nice to have citizen participation regardless of what is on the agenda.

Jul 10, 2011, 7:32pm Permalink
Frank Bartholomew

Mark, not everyone can afford home ownership, but your comment sounds like you're saying renters should have no say in this matter? I believe renters have as much skin in the game as owners. If property taxes rise, so does the rent.

Jul 10, 2011, 8:31pm Permalink
C. M. Barons

Mark, I never advocated for fed dollars to pay for LeRoy's pool. I said, "municipal bond;" Village of LeRoy being the municipality in this case. However, if I were given the choice whether to spend $1.3 trillion on war in Iraq/Afghanistan or $400,000 on a kid's pool in LeRoy- guess which I'd choose? ...And renters pay property taxes indirectly through their rent. Revoking renters' say in local government harkens to some antiquated notion from the 18th Century! You are aware that women were granted suffrage in 1920?!

Jul 10, 2011, 9:11pm Permalink
Lorie Longhany

I don't know who said this because he/she were unnamed in a previous article, but a reference was made, I believe by an elected official, who stated that the only people using the pool were low income. No advocacy for the children who's families can't afford to have a back yard pool or happen to be renters, but the statement was in justification for closure.

Forty years ago the people in this community came together -- rich, poor and middle class -- to raise the funds to build this pool. I learned to swim there and so did my kids. Where do the kids that don't have transportation to Batavia and the funds for the Y or private lessons learn to swim? Are we going to have a segment of children subjected to the dangers of not knowing how to swim? It's a tragedy waiting to happen.

My thoughts have always been to fix the structural problems, but to also hold an in-kind community spit and polish day at the pool. One thing that may bring down admission numbers is just plain simple cosmetics. It's visually outdated. Blacktop the parking lot, paint the fence, plant some shrubs and flowers, give the locker rooms a fresh look. I'm sure members of the garden club would love to lend a hand.

Jul 11, 2011, 8:13am Permalink
lucie griffis

I was recently up North Country in Richville, NY. At the local little store they had a flyer for the Summer program for kids to be bused to another community to swim. I thought that was awesome. I had to call the Town Clerk about an issue with our lot on that Monday. I discussed how great I thought it was. I explained what we are going through with our pool. She stated that out of all that they do not do - they never forget the Summer swim program for the kids there. They never have and never will. She stated a community pool is important for all! Amazing a community without a pool can see how important one is! What is our problem? Lorie, I did not mention who it was , but it was an elected official on the Town Board. You are correct it does not matter what income class you are. ALL OF THE KIDS IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE WORTH IT. i HAVE BEEN WALKING AROUND WITH MY PETITION. PEOPLE ARE STRESSING THEY WANT IT AND NEED IT. THEY WANT THE SWIM LESSONS BACK. THEY ARE WILLING TO HELP DO WORK. PEOPLE WOULD COME TO A SPIT AND POLISH DAY. I THINK WE NEED ONE IN THE FALL OR SEPT TIME. GET IT READY FOR NEXT YEAR. LET US TEAM UP AGAIN AS A COMMUNITY! THE KIDS WANT TO DO A WALKATHON. I WILL BE THERE WEDNESDAY NIGHT, WILL YOU?

Jul 11, 2011, 9:23am Permalink
kevin kretschmer

It seems to me that the simplest solution would be for those that want a community pool to form a non-profit for that expressed purpose. Elect a Board of Directors then raise the funds to buy the property for $1.00 and get the pool up and running. Everyone wins.

Jul 11, 2011, 11:30am Permalink
Jennifer Keys

Village Fitness does an excellent job with swimming lessons. I was under the belief that they are for younger children, like the 4-6 range?

Village Fitness has many wonderful offerings, including their therapeutic pool. Unfortunately, they do not have a full size swimming pool. The discussion about the community pool in no way takes away from what Village Fitness does have and the great job they do. You can find me there at least once per week including this week before the Village Board meeting.

Jul 11, 2011, 12:35pm Permalink

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