MARSHFIELD, WI (WSAU) — A decision on where to locate a new aquatic center being proposed for the city of Marshfield is ‘on-hold’ following a meeting of that city’s Common Council Tuesday night.
That’s according to Mayor Chris Meyer, who says even though a special ‘pool study committee’ recommended the new aquatic center be built on the city’s current Hefko Pool site, more information needs to be gathered about the future expansion plans of Marshfield Utilities which is located adjacent to the pool.
“The next step is to get the utilities to the table and have a conversation about how this impacts what it is they’re planning to do,” Meyer said. “The fact of the matter is, if it causes the utility to do something more expensive somewhere else in town, there is a cost.”
“The utility had planned to do an expansion of their facilities right next door,” the mayor explained. “The pool is currently in the way of those plans. If we keep the pool in the current location, there may be some changes to what the utility does long-term planing for their facilities.”
The decision to locate the aquatic center on the Hefko Pool site, Meyer said, could even potentially affect future utility rates. “Any impact we have on that site could potentially impact rate-payers. It’s prudent for us to make sure we evaluate what it means to the utility before we move forward. I think that’s ‘step one’.”
City officials will now confer with members of the city’s Utility Commission within the next 60 days to determine how use of the Hefko Pool site for the new aquatic center would impact the utilities’ future expansion plans.
