Ypsilanti Township donates $10,000 to Rutherford Pool rebuild effort
The Ypsilanti Township Board of Trustees approved a $10,000 donation toward an effort to rebuild Ypsilanti's Rutherford Pool this week.
The South Congress Street public pool is located within walking distance of Ypsilanti Township's border with the city, and the group that operates the pool, the Friends of the Rutherford Pool, estimate about one-third of its members are township residents. Ypsilanti Township does not operate a public pool.
The pool used to be owned by the City of Ypsilanti until it dissolved its parks and recreation department and pool management was taken over by the Friends. The 40-year-old pool is suffering from major leakage issues and at a point where it either must be rebuilt or closed.
The Friends are trying to raise $600,000 to completely rebuild and operate the pool at no cost to the city or township. So far they have raised $180,000 through their fundraising efforts, and have applied for a $300,000 grant through the Michigan Natural Resources trust fund. They must raise $223,000 in matching grants, which Ypsilanti Township's donation would go toward.
The rebuild of the pool, deck and demolition of the current facility would cost $523,000. The additional money would go into an endowment, maintenance fund and help pay for other amenities.
"The Rutherford pool is the only outdoor swimming pool that provides swimming lessons to our area," Township Supervisor Brenda Stumbo said. "It's a regional asset for recreation and this collaborative effort will preserve a great place for kids and families to swim and learn to swim at an affordable rate. We're proud to be part of this effort."
Also last week, the Ypsilanti City Council approved a memorandum of understanding with the friends that outlines the ownership and operating arrangement between the two parties.
The Friends are a Michigan non-profit and have submitted their paperwork to become a federal non-profit.
Comments
Steve McKeen
Sun, Jul 24, 2011 : 11:46 p.m.
How can my son get a job at the pool? He applies every year, but the only people who get hired have close ties to the Friends of the Rutherford Pool. They are either children of board members or are actually board members themselves. Surely this is illegal. Maybe AnnArbor.com will investigate this.
Bonnie Cervantes
Wed, Jul 27, 2011 : 1:56 a.m.
Steve, I was concerned by your comments so after a quick double check at human resources your son has not turned in an application with us. In fact no one has applied for a job since 2007. Every summer we do have a few late people stop at the pool to see if we are hiring, but by that time we are not, no pool is. We start the hiring process in January, by March 1 we have our staff hired. Most years many of our staff returns so not many spots are open, this year was the exception. If your son had his Red Cross certificates and he turned in a application we could have used him. Eric Rudolph, Rutherford Pool Manager
eastsidemom
Sun, Jul 24, 2011 : 12:02 p.m.
Hurray for Ypsilanti Township for helping with the pool! I love it when people come late to the party and want to complain...If you have complained here, I challenge you to go and enjoy our beautiful Rutherford Pool. And those that think "we should bus those low income kids somewhere else"...I say "Are there no workhouses?" Maybe then you could make the low income kids work to cover your Sheriff bill!
Eric
Sun, Jul 24, 2011 : 3:26 a.m.
With all the news article about Rutherford, heres thier website to learn more bout them. <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/ypsipool/" rel='nofollow'>https://sites.google.com/site/ypsipool/</a>
Tom Todd
Sat, Jul 23, 2011 : 5:51 p.m.
george bush ran the country into the ground by starting 2 wars,bailing out the banks(They do not have to pay it back) and he also started homeland security. all this without any new taxes and with tax cuts, SO now we are in super debt. Obama had to try something or the great recession would have turned into the Worst Depression. How can those Company's and person's get away with not paying there share of taxes. I PAY my taxes (so-called middle class) if I made more I would expect to pay more, not make a million and pay taxes on 45K. Republican law makers play the religion and race/gun card card on the middle class to support there Scheme to make the rich richer and the poor more poor. the social security i pay in is for me Down the road, not for repubs to use for other things. It's not an Entitlement it's mine.
adam
Sat, Jul 23, 2011 : 11:45 p.m.
What does any of that have to do with fixing a leaky pool?
joe golder
Sat, Jul 23, 2011 : 5:41 p.m.
Outdoor swimming pools are very expensive to operate and maintain. I cringe when I look at the long list of things that are tax dollars have to support. But having said that, I will never forget the outdoor pool I was blessed to use during summer vacation as a kid and how it kept my friends and me occupied doing something constructive. It was a community gathering place where you met other kids. Ok! I wasn't very happy with the swimming lessons in the cold water early in the morning. The pool has my support and plan on having a fundraiser soon myself to support it. Thank you Township!!! Regional efforts in these type of projects are forward thinking.
Eric
Sun, Jul 24, 2011 : 2:51 a.m.
Rutherford Pool also does not charge resident / Non resident fees, same fee no matter where you come from. A2 family pass (up to 5members)$325 vs Ypsi Pool $190 doesnt matter family size, also Monday they go half price
xmo
Sat, Jul 23, 2011 : 4:55 p.m.
Why not ask President Obama for some money? He has a lot left over from the bailouts, TARP and Stimulus package.
Monica R-W
Sat, Jul 23, 2011 : 3:49 p.m.
The Ypsilanti Township Board of Trustees voted on this item Tuesday. Agendas for the general board meeting are posted IN ADVANCE on their governmental website. If any citizen of Ypsilanti Township has an issue with a agenda topic item, the time to express it then. Opinions can be expressed on a forum, discussion board or internet chat resource but, they probably will have little to no impact on the final outcome. With that, I agree that Ypsilanti Township supporting the Friend of Rutherford Pools (FRP) effort to keep the recreational park resource open for all residents of our Township, the City of Ypsilanti and surrounding communities. As another poster cited, this pool also one of the few affordable points of recreation for our lower income citizens, that is accessible by public transportation. As Parks Commissioner for Ypsilanti Township, we have to keep in mind that our community doesn't have a pool resource. Nearby pools are either in public schools-subject to restricted times for open swim, Rolling Hills which is inaccessible to public transportation, Ann Arbor Platt Road Recreation Center-available on Washtenaw or private pools in apartment communities and physical fitness facilities. In my opinion, this is a win-win for a great partnership between (FRP) and the Ypsilanti Township community. Monica Ross-Williams Ypsilanti Township Parks Commissioner
Lola
Sat, Jul 23, 2011 : 3:24 p.m.
So this crumbling pool is the one that won best pool in the poll that was conducted a few weeks ago?
YpsiFrog
Sun, Jul 24, 2011 : 3:02 a.m.
Spammed?! so if someone takes the time to vote for thier favorite place they must be cheating? and yes the pool needs to be rebuilt, I think the strong showing was for the Staff & program they run there maybe also for the lower cost of every other pool in the area.
Lola
Sat, Jul 23, 2011 : 10:30 p.m.
Not even close. Rutherford pool was the winner by a huge margin. The polls are worthless because they're spammed by Ypsilanti residents with inferiority complexes.
tdw
Sat, Jul 23, 2011 : 4:42 p.m.
I think it was Fuller pool in A2 that got that vote
dading dont delete me bro
Sat, Jul 23, 2011 : 3:08 p.m.
im not saying it's NOT a worthwile project. just don't use MY tax dollars. i don't donate tax dollars to the township. how can they donate $10g's to this? if i CHOOSE to support it, that's fine and maybe i would (or will). but i didn't have a choice (or voice) in whether or not my township did. emu offers swimming lessons. i've had my kids go a couple season's to emu for lessons. the lessons were reasonable and offered to everyone. i can't remember if it were through the township or some other public mainstream.
Judy
Sat, Jul 23, 2011 : 2:32 p.m.
I agree that the sheriff is critical, but $10,000 won't come close to the funds we need there. Many low-income kids use that pool during the summer and it does a lot to keep them out of trouble and to give them access to a great exercise option. It's sad to me that people feel like they don't want to support social services simply because they personally don't use them. It's like people who don't want to support the schools because they don't have kids in school. We should also be thankful to Cathy Bates and other families who worked tirelessly to take this on themselves.
jns131
Sun, Jul 24, 2011 : 2:45 a.m.
With the low income children that can be bussed to other pools and other social services. EMU and Ypsilanti have pools that can be used as a donation. A crumbling pool needs to be dismantled and used as something else. Time to put the white elephant to sleep folks. Ypsi township? Stop being so generous. This is not what I want my money going towards.
dading dont delete me bro
Sat, Jul 23, 2011 : 3:10 p.m.
ok, "...but $10,000 won't come close to the funds we need there..." agreed, but it would help. question for you. how do you eat an elephant? one bite at at time...in other words, it all adds up.
dading dont delete me bro
Sat, Jul 23, 2011 : 1:55 p.m.
my sub has a pool that i have to pay for and we use. why should my tax dollars pay for a second pool (rutherford) that i won't use? i'd rather see it go toward wcsd budget...
Monica R-W
Sat, Jul 23, 2011 : 4:04 p.m.
Ypsilanti Township supports Washtenaw County Sheriff Office staffing in this community, within their line budget items. With that, most communities in Michigan have experienced some deduction in law enforcement budgetary levels due to upcoming state share revenue cuts on October 1st. That has nothing to do with a non-profit donation of $10,000 to keep a resource like the Rutherford Pool operational and accessible to residents of this community. Supporting recreation (that the Friends of Rutherford Pool has open to our residents) in these difficult economic times is a cause should be supported.
tdw
Sat, Jul 23, 2011 : 2:50 p.m.
What about the other tax payers in Ypsi Twp that are not lucky enough to have a pool in their subs ?.You used to be able to go to Ypsi Highs pool and swim for a fee but no longer as far as I know.There are people in the twp that have wells and septic fields but still have to pay YUCA ( I think )
jns131
Sat, Jul 23, 2011 : 1:33 p.m.
As an after thought? Lower Huron Metro Park and Fuller Pool are the closest to swim lessons as you can get. Maybe EMU might consider letting them use theirs during the summer? Close Rutherford. Keep our sheriff.
YpsiFrog
Sun, Jul 24, 2011 : 3:18 a.m.
Yes, the metro park could work if you had a car, $5 car fee + $8 adult swim + $6 Child (no season pass) or Fuller $325 family season maybe one of the private clubs I see Chippewa is only, $895 season. seems Rutherfords a deal at $190.
jns131
Sat, Jul 23, 2011 : 1:30 p.m.
Where on earth are they coming up with this money? We need that money for our sheriff protection and they are handing it away on a pool? Close the pool and keep our sheriff. I know who I am voting out of office in November. Time for some recalls. We do not frequent it at all. Now my feathers are ruffled. Thanks for giving me a bad day and another issue with our township.