Comments expressed

Comments are are not necessarily those of station owners, managers or, staff. Listen for Tom Freel on KAST 1370 and on line at kast1370.com



April 04, 2011

Support For AAC

Here is another perspective on the Astoria Aquatic Center that comes from the editorial section of our main site kast1370.com ================================================================== Pool Support I find it frustrating to hear the city complain about how the Aquatic Center is not paying for it's own costs. I clearly remember one of things the city told the citizens when we voted for the bond measure to have it built. They said they did not expect the Aquatic Center to pay it's own way and that it would always need public funds but it would be a vital service to the community as a replacement for the pool at Tapiola Park. For years, the pool was poorly manages. Every time the kids were out of school for in-service days or holidays, you'd think the pool would be available for open swim or have activities scheduled. But no, the hours were very un-user friendly. Pool management at that time successfully trained most of the people that if the pool hours weren't convenient, too bad. Go do something else. I'm glad an outside consultant was brought in to "Save the Pool" and revamp the schedule to make it more accessible to the community at large. After all, that's why the pool exists. As a citizen of Astoria, I have no problem with my tax money going to support the pool, even though I don't use it myself. I don't expect it to be self-supporting although I DO expect it to be managed well. It is a vital service to our community and should remain so. But I will have a problem if the city decides at some point to close the pool because they don't want to support it with tax dollars. That isn't how it was sold to us in the first place.

13 comments:

  1. I will be attending the City Counsel Meeting Tonight.

    As Co-owner of Astoria Scuba, we have attempted, and will continue to support the Pool with our dive classes as well as other support.

    When the Pool used their First Aid o2 for training and had none, we supplied them with Our First Aid o2 Kit and refilled their o2, without charge. That is not the same way we are treated by Mr. Moss.

    If it wasn't for the current Pool Manager, Lori, I would have pulled out of using the pool because of the horrible relations we have with JP Moss. It has not been a joy to deal with Mr. Moss.

    I have many quetions as to the financial operations but are at a disadvantage, because we need a pool for our operations and training.

    We look forward to better days.

    Astoria Scuba
    Floyd E. Holcom

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  2. Anonymous1:08 PM

    I though the City fired the Parks Director and hired some businessman who turned the pool around into a break even proposition. I know that was what was reported in the newspaper and on the radio. I have not heard otherwise. So, what is the score, Tom. Is this business guy not really the savior that was reported? The people want to know.

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  3. Anonymous8:59 PM

    The city did fire the parks director and they did hire a businessman to turn the pool around. According to the Daily A, he did, but that report was just because the Daily A supports the pool. The facts are that the pool was turned around for about a month. After that, it continued to loose money by the tons and that is the situation today. The only way the pool can stay open is by a major infusion of tax dollars each year.
    Yes, Jim Servino and Skip Haulke sold us a fradulent bill of goods. No doubt. They should be ashamed.

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  4. Anonymous10:15 AM

    Just talk to some people who work for the public works dept about our pool.
    Talk about "cover up"

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  5. Anonymous8:22 PM

    For sure we will never hear the truth about his one in the media. KAST is pro pool, and should be since its former director was one of the folks that sold us a bill of goods about it. The Daily A is also pro pool so it will never print a negative story about the pool. To bad we are saddled with such lightweight media that will beat up individuals in government but not take on the major local issues of the day, week, month or year.

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  6. I was at a function last year (June I believe) where the conversation shifted to the pool. The statement made from an Astoria resident was he had good information from a public works employee that the pool funds were manipulated to show a huge paper trail of income that supported the new outside managers accounting and make the pool look profitable. Now, almost 1 year later this information is slowly leaking out. Was it true?? Do we have another Gov. run entity doing what ever is necessary to appear to break even? I believe it was promised to be of no financial burden on the Astoria residents back when it was proposed.

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  7. Anonymous7:21 PM

    Tom, when you say "this is the way the City sold it to us" please don't forget that one of the two point people selected by the Mayor to sell the pool bonding to the community was the manager of your radio station. Jim Servino sold the pool hard and he sold the idea that it would pay for itself. So, unless you are going to raise your hand and say that you told Jim this was a bad idea, your station, as a media organization who is supposed to do some research, bought into this money pit. Don't worry, Steve Forrester and the Daily A bought into the Servino/Hauke hype and will never admit participation either. But, is that the way the media is supposed to operate?

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  8. You must be new to the area. Welcome.

    tf

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  9. Anonymous10:39 AM

    Tom,
    No, not new in town at all. Just a guy that went to the meetings and heard all the hype. But, are you saying that Servino and Hauke were not appointed by the Mayor to sell this project to the community and that they did not hold meetings where, on at least one occasion they said the pool would pay for itself? Or, are you disclaiming Servino's association with KAST?
    Or, are you saying this kind of bait and switch is typical in Astoria?
    I would really like to know your opinion, as a newsman, of the situation that led us to this point.

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  10. All this over a sign? Jeez. Get a life!

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  11. Anonymous6:17 PM

    Oh, no, far more than a sign. The fact is that two respected members of a community that listened to its respected members convinced a large majority to vote for a proposition that was doomed to failure. One of these two respected people has moved far away and the other retired, chose a bad contractor, lost his retirement in a law suit and now laying low regarding the pool. Your radio station, at the least,enabled its manager to convince people to vote for a pool that was doomed to failure and, it seems, you are now trying to wriggle your employer out of any accountability with a "all this over a sign? Jeez. Get a life". If the media is not held accountable for its actions, no one should be. How about KAST manning up on this one, Tom?

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  12. Okay. You win. By the way, what sign are we talking about? Are you going to "man up" now too mystery person?

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  13. Anonymous11:39 AM

    Tom,
    Of course not. It would take away all the mystery inherent in a site like this. And, I think you brought up the sign.

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