‘We don’t have the ability to write a blank check’

The village of Ettrick appears unlikely to enter into an agreement that would allow Ettrick residents to use the pool at a cheaper rate by reimbursing the village of Trempealeau.

Earlier this year, the Trempealeau village board approved pool rate increases for those living outside the village limits. That action meant it would cost village of Ettrick residents $10 daily or $230 for a seasonal family pass. 

Trempealeau Village Administrator Isaac Pooler met with the Ettrick board last week Tuesday with a formal agreement. He offered to allow Ettrick village residents to use the pool at the same rate Trempealeau residents are charged — $3 daily, $90 for seasonal family passes — as long as Ettrick reimburses Trempealeau for the difference. 

However, Pooler couldn’t offer information on how much such an agreement would cost the village of Ettrick. The Trempealeau pool hasn’t tracked where attendees have been from in the past. He said they intend to do so this year, but thought the total number would be lower due to the increased cost. 

Ettrick Village President Marc Baures said a bus runs daily from Ettrick to Trempealeau to allow children to use the pool. 

“If you have 10 or 12 kids a day going down there, that can get spendy in a hurry,” Baures said. 

Trustee Pete Filla agreed.

“Right now, we’re going without a number. For me it would be important to look at how many kids and how often they’re using it when we look at budgeting,” Filla said. “We don’t have the ability to write a blank check. We need to have some sort of data.”

Ettrick Trustee Harold Olson said that he thought the village of Trempealeau could absorb that cost. 

He said Ettrick’s village budget is $380,000 compared to $9.2 million for Trempealeau — though Pooler said the actual village budget is $1.3 million when outside funds and utilities aren’t included. 

“It seems to me the village of Trempealeau has a very large overhead for its population,” Olson said. “I think you folks can afford the pool much better than we can. Plus, you have plans to build a $5 to $6 million park? How are you financing that? Through taxpayer money? And then you come up here asking for money for a pool when you’re building a $5 to $6 million park. I don’t think that goes over well with any residents outside of the village of Trempealeau.”

Pooler said the park project was about $3 million and is being financed by debt levy that is dropping off. He said the operating costs for the pool are significant.

“It is much easier to fund a new big project than it is to operate it,” Pooler said, adding it costs $236 per hour to operate the pool. 

Olson said Ettrick village residents can use the Blair pool, which is closer, cheaper and newer. 

“We have two maintenance people here and a part-time clerk… you folks have a full-sized group of people working for you and come up here asking for money,” Olson said. “I don’t agree with it.” 

Trustee Kaylee Waldvogel said she appreciates that Trempealeau officials are trying to figure out a way to help Ettrick residents use the pool. 

Baures suggested a village committee could discuss the matter and decide what the village is willing to do to help make the Trempealeau pool affordable for its residents. Waldvogel said she would like to hear feedback from residents. 

“I would like to know what our constituents think,” Waldvogel said. “Personally, I would rather not take money from the village. I have the means to take my kids to a different pool, so that’s what we’ll do. I haven’t heard from people in town.”

Baures said the general feedback he has gotten is that $10 per day is too steep for Ettrick residents. 

Olson said the village could attempt to get public feedback and have the finance committee decide on an agreement for full board approval. Olson ended the conversation by saying: “Mr. Pooler, you have a tough job. But you get well paid for it… not many villages of 2,000 people have an administrator who is making your wages.”