Ok, I know this has been hashed over many, many times, but my sister-in-law dropped her kids off with me this morning and couldn't believe that the old hospital had a basement in it.(She is not from here) She said, "If the old hospital had a basement why not keep the hole in the ground, throw some cement in it and make it a pool! Kills two birds with one stone!" I personally love the idea. It is in a good location, the land is already there, along with the large hole. Plus, this also eliminates the too many parks issue. Now I'm sure that there will be lots of reasons for not being able to do this, but seriously think about it! Think about all the people in town that have voiced thier opinion on this, think about the great oppitunity to use the land in a very useful way. Give us, (the community) something that we DON'T have, rather than something we already have lots of!! I'm not trying to make decisions for anyone, I just couldn't help but throw the idea out there!

It is a little unbelievable that a community the size of Miles City does not have a municipal pool. I live in a pretty small community and there is a very nice aquatic center here. The place is alive with activity each morning with swim lessons,swim team practice and leisure swimmers. I took my kids to the pool practically every day this summer. If they were not in a lesson, they were swimming for fun. Miles City surly could find funds for a pool. I would seriously consider moving back to the area, but my kids wouldn't know what to do during the summer without a pool

Miles City does not need a pool. It has an Oasis. You pot smokers can all move back to Californica.

Well, this pot smoker agrees with you. Miles City does not need an indoor municpal pool. The Oasis is more than adequate. After all, we need to stimulate our childrens immune systems to help keep them healthy in the long run.

I heard Helena had a nice pool until the "locals" got the idea to mod the pool cover and turn it into the world's largest community bong.

Nobody's been swimming in it ever since.

I heard we can purchase a water slide in Glendive for about $20,000. Carbon Hill is a nice spot for it then in the winter we can have it for sledding like the good old days.

I think what the point is, is that it would be nice to have a place for families to go, sure there is an oasis but it needs a little upkeep and if there was an indoor pool it would allow use in the winter time...the oasis could be used as a skating rink but so far that hasn't happened. If all parents had to worry about was our kids smokin pot when they were bored I think we could relax. There are way too many dangers today than there was just 10-15 years ago. Times have changed and when you have children you would find it beneficial to live in a city that ebraces families and provides family friendly places of entertainment other than hotel pools and pizza joints. Gas costs too much to make day trips to Billings for a change of scenery. I know I am not the only one who thinks of these things. It's no wonder families are leaving.

Well, I have never been called a pot smoker before, that's a new one!! I wouldn't know it if I saw it! I grew up swimming in the Oasis and I loved it!! My children have swam in it 2 times and both times have gotten rashes and such from it. I know I am not the only one who feels this way!! Like I said, it was just a suggestion and I know it would be used alot. I also know of lots of families who took thier children all the way to Forsyth for lessons, what a pitty!! So much for trying to help a communtiy that I will be raising my children in. Instead I get called names! Thanks.

KELI: Dont let this bother you. This is the internet and people
act out in ways they normally wouldnt in the real world. They
do this because they can hide behind psuedonames(sp) and can
get away with it. They do it because they get off by watching
people get pissed off. Sorry it happened to you.

Jeff

Thank you Jeff!

No psuedo name here. Cuss me out if you want to I don't care. Why dont we build another CASINO or BAR so our irresponsible, welfare riding citizens of this fine city can spend their welfare monies making the casino owners rich instead of feeding their kids. Maybe the neighbors will feed or care for them until the parents come home from the bar. MAYBE they can park outside at 12 midnight with their kid in the car while they sit in the casino and gamble!!!! What a JOKE this place is. Do something for the kids. Do something for the kids who arent into sports or clubs because they cant find a place to belong. (dont attack... my kids are in ALL sports..season to season) Maybe if our community cared about the youth that live in it we wouldn't be one of the largest counties where the youth are involved in meth and alcohol. But you know when we try to express our dislikes against the drug problem people &*$@% about that too. (hook at bloedorns) Be a part of the solution or be a problem!!!!!!!! Near as I can tell it's just gonna get worse cuz everyone is worried about crap that in the whole grand scheme of things doesn't really matter. It doesn't HAVE to be a pool but it does HAVE to be something to entertain the youth in this community, YEAR ROUND! Take it for what its worth!!!

I am one of those poor souls who feel it isn't up to me to entertain kids. It is up to kids and their parents to find responsible activities for their children. Scouts. Church groups. Social organizations. Volunteer activities. Having a pool won't keep a kid from doing drugs. If it did, there would be no drug activity in Beverly Hills. Having kids involved in all sorts of worthwhile activities will help.

As I kid, I was a Girl Scout, belonged to the Methodist Youth Group, belonged to several groups at the High School like Ushers Club and Drama Club, belonged to the Barn Players, played tennis, built sand castles, and or rode bikes with my friends. If I was bored, I read a book or my parents found me work around the house. I didn't go downtown and ask someone to entertain me.

why are you so against family freindly fun in a town that doesn't want to progress or change....don't be so close minded times have changed drastically since you were a kid or your kids were young. Yes there are church groups and drama clubs but there really aren't many choices here. I think the point is that families of today would like more choices....nothing has changed and people are ready for something different!

Youth camp, drama club and hockey will NOT give you lifelong physical health. Swimming will. Swimming (water therapy) is a skill and sport that can be used by both the most athletic and the most layed up.

Invest in our youth by giving them an indoor pool. Invest in our middles aged by giving them a pool. Invest in our elderly by giving them a pool.

Three pools seems a little expensive - maybe we could all share one?

What would happen if that facility offered more than just swimming? What if it could host several types of community activities under one common umbrella? What if such a facility could meet the needs of many diverse interests? Would we then be able to afford it? How much more valuable would our community be if it had such a place?

Invest in your kids, turn off the TV, toss the video games, go outside and play.

This town has an abundance of things for kids and families to do together. We also have an abundance of parents and kids who would like for someone else to take responsibility for their entertainment.

Get over it people, get off your *** and take responsibility for your own growth.

And yes, I'm for an affordable pool, it can be done. There's no need for a 400 ft waterslide... ect.

This is the internet and people
act out in ways they normally wouldnt in the real world. They
do this because they can hide behind psuedonames(sp) and can
get away with it.

Believe it or not, my name really is Gunnar Emilsson. And people who know me in real life can attest that yes, I do insult people to their face. Just ask Bert Elwood.

You are completely entitled to state your oppinion and utilize your right to free speech. However, you did insult someone for no apparent reason which really wasn't nice. All she stated was that she would like a place for her children to swim. Obviously you do not have children yet, and you sound fairly young. Until you do have a family of your own you will use your words more wisely (hopefully) and maybe branch out a little on what are important issues. I am not attacking you so don't get all defensive, I am just stating that at this point in your life it is hard for you to relate to this issue. I happen to agree with her viewpoint and many others, it is a tough call when you consider who is responsible for the cost. I really don't see any choice but to have it taxed in. Unless of course, there is an investor somewhere out there or private funds were raised.

Wow, the assumptions are flowing freely (and amusingly inaccurately).

Anyone who has been a part of mc.com for any period of time whatsoever knows Gunnar's sense of humor.

All I was trying to do is STOP a pissing match and say sorry to someone who does not understand alot that goes on here. Gunner is entitled to his opionion(sp) (Damn I need to get better at spelling). I just did not want to see someone from Miles City leaving the site because of one statement. I have read alot of Gunner's posts and do understand alot of his sarcasim and my statement was not made directly at him.

I realize he was joking, even though I have not been a part of your little mc.com communtiy all that long verbally, I have been following it for a couple years. I just felt strongly on this subject enough to state my thoughts.Becoming a parent for the first time it would be nice to have more family oriented places to go. I also felt sorry for Keli that she took it to heart and simply expressed my feelings. But, thank you for your insight.

"Obviously you do not have children yet, and you sound fairly young."

Isn't Gunnar like 102?

if he is he's inhaling too much and should cut back a little.

It's also important to remember that in the city-state from which Gunnar hails "Pot Smoker" is a common term of endearment.

Its a badge of universal fellowship in that part of the country... alot like gang membership, but without all the knife fights.

Author: JLB Posted: 9/12/2007 11:04:01 AM

I realize he was joking

You say that you realize Gunnar was joking but you also said:

You are completely entitled to state your oppinion and utilize your right to free speech. However, you did insult someone for no apparent reason which really wasn't nice.

Which sounds like you were taking him seriously.

Gunnar, you troublemaker, one of these days the Webmaster is going to gag you once and for all.

- Dave

simply felt sorry for Keli, Gunner you sound like a character. Without you around what would we do for entertainment!

With his usual deep insight, Rick is right, of course. I use pot smoker as a term of endearment, not as an insult.

I really could care less about a pool in Miles City, its just that the old Pool vs. Oasis debate gets tiresome. (I know, I know, I don't have to read it, but it has been debated here ad nauseum). At one time Rick used to have a support the pool website, but he seemed to have dropped the idea.

In Helena, we have a pool, but ironically it went on restricted hours this summer because the city couldn't find enough lifeguards to hire. Oh, the problems of a low jobless rate.

Come on Gunnar, we all know nobody swims over there anymore. They say you can't swim for two hours after eating, and with all that pot smoking, there probably isn't a two hour window available in a day.

BTW, if you don't want people to take your jokes personally, you might want to extend the same courtesy.

I didn't really give up on the idea, just the direction that particular effort went (a $6 million facility nobody wants to own)

If no other willing victim shows up, at some point I may try try again. The whole 3 kids in less than 4 years thing took up alot of my spare time.

[This message has been edited by Rick Kuchynka (edited 9/12/2007).]

Maybe you were trying too hard, Rick - it only takes 30 seconds times thrice!

This is the internet and people
act out in ways they normally wouldnt in the real world. They
do this because they can hide behind psuedonames(sp) and can
get away with it.

Believe it or not, my name really is Gunnar Emilsson. And people who know me in real life can attest that yes, I do insult people to their face. Just ask Bert Elwood.

or ask chris peterson...i graduated with him...and i hope he is not 102 because i am older..which means i'd be 104 in a few days....argh!!!

Just remember not to take anything said here too personally.

Granted, it should be about the kids, but since i was a kid (hundred years ago), it has never been about the kids. If that were the case, carbon hill would still be in tact, the honda trails would still be buzzing, spotted eagle would still have boats instead of rotting debri floating in it...speaking of which - whose STUPID idea was that!! Dumping crap into spotted eagle....what did they think, out of sight, out of mind????

Swimming pools funded by tax payers are even a hard pill to get down the throats of Billings voters. They had to pull the connection to a heights pool to get the new Cobb field to pass here. It really is hardly fair to expect tax payers to pay for something only 1 in 5 people will ever use (that maybe a high estimate).

If a pool is in such hot demand I say let the private sector build one and collect all the revenue from it. You know that is not going to happen because it would be a bad place to invest private money, that should make it a bad place to invest public money as well.

The oasis was a great place to swim when I was a kid, we spent many enjoyable afternoons at that place and spotted eagle. Make use of what you have and be grateful you have it.

For those of you who feel it is not their responsibility to provide "entertainment" for the children of the community, well I have to say that you just really have a very poor attitude. I suppose then that the community should not support a senior center, parks, playground equipment, ballparks, a library and other publicly funded places not essential to government. The word "community" encompassas all ages. It is important to take care of our children today as they are our future leaders, doctors, nurses, teachers, etc, and will be taking care of all of us in years to come.

And that can't be done without a multi-million dollar swimming complex in a city that can't keep the streets repaired or clear of snow. I don't understand what part of "the city can't afford it" doesn't hit home.

In a perfect world a big swimming complex would be great, but.....

....but this is Miles City!!! It's too bad, as a community we need to come up with some sort of plan for famlies and children. I realize there is an oasis...duck mites are unappealing to most and Spotted eagle....isn't some guys arm still floating around in that hole somewhere????? Maybe a pool would be too much for everyone to choke down, how about some non smoking under age legal casinos???? That should go over in no time!

Something to entertain the youth year round, hmmmm, what about bowling? Actually that just might be an option. Let me know if you are interested...I can help.

Lol...bowling.



Jack.

I don't understand why the topic is always "year around swimming facility". What ever happened to just a normal outdoor pool. I live in a community population of 2500. Next year the city will begin building a new "outdoor pool" to replace the old one. It will be clean, safe and affordable. Right now a family season pass is $63.00. Miles City should have had a "normal" chlorinated pool years ago. Hasn't money been raised in years past for a new pool? If so, where is it?

Well Rick I have to agree with you on many factors. I graduated from CCHS in 1978, I swam on the Miles City Swim Team in 1975,76,77, and 1978. People did not want to come to Miles City and compete because we had a pond as what they called it. Now, for those of you who do not understand economics a concrete pool with a swim team will attract revenue from swim meets for all the business in town. An it will help pay for itself. We do not need an olympic size pool even though it would be nice. Currently, I live in Mohall North Dakota, and the population is 812 people and we have a concrete pool. We have lap swimming which my mother does every morning and she is 67 years of age and she swims a mile. There are others that do water aerobics, which help those that have Fibromyalgia along with RNA and other diseases that affect the body. These are all adults, along with the nursing home using it for some of the patients to keep them involved in the community. Swimming is also good for physical therapy for those who have injuries and need to keep weight off the injury. Running in the pool waste deep will strengthen the body. You all are trying to justify for kids. Your best bet is to show the benefits for health reasons. You also might want to look at endlesspools.com They used then at the Olympic Trials in California.
Sharon O'Connor McDaniel

I started this topic in hopes to give an idea on how to use the space left by the old hospital! I never said that it had to be a multi-million dollar complex and indoors! A cement pool that is kept clean and inviting would be awesome! A place where I don't have to worry if my kids are going to get sick or not. A place where I can go and sit and watch my kids enjoy swimming, something they love to do! I am not trying to get someone else to take care and entertain my children! I want to be able to do it with them. I watch children all day everyday in my home and would like to spend time with just my children doing something we love! Driving to Forsyth to swim is just not affordable to do as much as we would like to. Again, it was just a suggestion.

Duane, I agree with you on getting more kids and adults into bowling! It is something that you can do forever, no matter how good you are or how old you get. You can bowl with your kids on a league or just for fun and have quality time together. You don't have to be the best to move up, you just have to have fun! Once you start you can't quit because you want to try and beat your last score. I would love to help get something going with the youth and bowling.

Thanks to JLB and Jeff who have defended me on this topic!

I should probably explain my statement about "entertaining" kids. I firmly believe in providing opportunities for chlildren to entertain themselves. I support parks, organizations like Scouts, and think a concrete liner inside the existing pool to provide cleaner water is a fabulous and doable idea.

However, there are children who are going to be "bored" no matter what. Kids who live in Los Angeles and New York complain to their parents that they are bored. They don't want to go find something to do, they want a rock band and clown and pony to come to their house and entertain them and even if the rock band and clown and pony showed up, some kids would still be "bored." Boredom is cool and kids like to be cool.

Drugs have very little to do with entertainment. Some kids are going to do drugs. Speed, the precursor to meth, was VERY popular when I was in high school a thousand years ago. Kids who belonged to clubs and had access to private pools used it. The drug problem is a whole lot more complex than a swimming pool.

I would LOVE to see the concrete liner explored further. It would allow the existing Scanlan Lake to remain and it could become a place for paddleboats or canoeing. (How the heck to you spell that word? Canoing looks wrong to. You know what I mean.) I would like to see pool usage up. But we need to understand that Miles City CANNOT support a year round, indoor water complex and work from some basis in reality.

Funny thing about kids. I read an article on a garbage dump in Alexandria, Egypt. Had a letter from a young man in the military in Gaul to his parents in Alexandria. Kid complained that all his friends had chariots and he had to bum rides from his buddies and if his parents loved him, they would send him money for a chariot. Two thousand years ago and kids were the same!

I picture cave kids sitting around going "I'm bored!" Human nature.

I guess don't get the connection between a swimming pool and a casino,
what has one got to do with another? Twice in this post the casinos where brought up as a reason to have a pool, Is there a mandated pool to casino ratio I am unaware of?

If the point is people are spending money in casinos and not spending their money on a pool then the point is crazy, what floats one mans boat may sink another's. People are still free to do what they want with their money in Miles City, aren't they? Maybe a legal raffle with all proceeds to a pool fund would snatch some of that gambling money and put it to good use. Look at all the good we've done with the lotto money .

Kelli, thank you for your statement on not expecting others to entertain our kids....I agree 100%. That was not the issue here, but like you said it is to enjoy something with them and do something together...NO it doesn't have to be indoor, or even a multi million dollar complex but CLEAN. I think you hit it on the nail. My little one loves to swim and I want to swim with him and watch him enjoy the water. Bowling is good too, however infants don't bowl too well and a pool is something for all ages infant to seniors. The casino statement is just to point out that we sure as hell don't need another one of those there's one on every block practically. But since you mention the spending issue those machines don't always put out but everyone could have use of the pool and get something for their money...a healthier choice. You are welcome Kelli I am glad you came up with an idea for the use of the hospital basement, now if only the city could open their minds to weigh in the options on this we would be cooking with gas, until then it's the same old close minded citizens that would need convincing on such a topic, they just plain don't get it!

Never mind

this might be a matter of concern and spur the subject along a tad bit.....

http://www.cnn.com/2007/H...index.html

From the State of Montana's official state travel listing for Miles City:

On a hot summer day take a refreshing dip in Miles City's unique outdoor municipal pool, an oasis located next to the city park, which is perfect for picnicking or just relaxing. Just a short distance from the pool is a recreation area with boating facilities. Plenty of fishing sites may be found along the Tongue and Yellowstone rivers, and a number of reservoirs in the Miles City area are also available for fishing. A variety of other recreational activities are available: tennis, golf, bowling, racquetball, movies and river floating.

It sounds like the pool we have is a traveller's destination and attraction. I guess we can't get a new one...it will ruin our image.

And on alternating Saturday nights you can let out some of the water and race monster trucks! How can you lose?

Cheers!
FH

Hello

I think that Idea was a very good one.
It could be made into a heated pool for the winter time and the public and hospitals and treatment facilities could all use it and benfit from it. The health benifts are fantastic for the elderly and people with arthritis. They could also hold water aerobics and swimming lesson for all ages.
It would also create more jobs for people also.
Yes, there is the Oais and yes maybe it needs to be tended to a little more than it has been, but is still a great place for swimming also in the summer. I did for years and also my brother and I also learned to swim there. They just need to put some money into it.
Kat

In the recent months I have visited a variety of small towns and was amazed! Terry has a pool, and Hysham, and Colstrip, and Forsyth, and Sidney, etc. !! Crazy huh? Towns with such little popoulation and so much to do for kids!!

well, with all the publicity about the brain eating amoeba, maybe an indoor chlorinated pool isn't such a bad idea after all. Something to think about when the death rates are on the rise, such a scary thought

i don't think the amoeba lives where water freezes during the winter. But then who knows, maybe it could live in a year-round heated pool filter...

Kids - which I have - or not, I want a heated indoor pool. I want to swim after work or before work or whenever they can keep it open and lose some weight and get in better shape. I would like to see the bottom and not pick algae and cottonwood leaves out of my "------" afterward. And not be chewed on by fish (stupid leghair).

My former small college of 4000 people has 3 of them and that doesn't include the town of 14,000 or the other college in town. I grew up in Havre - similar size - which has a city indoor pool. Why not MC? Why not the college or hospital? Is it a given that we wouldn't be able to support it?

How can you get businesses or qualified professionals who can work anywhere to chose our community when it doesn't have a basic pool 9 months out of the year? I wouldn't - well, all other things being equal. Miles City isn't too small to support an indoor pool, it just has to do it creatively which means not an exclusively municipal funded, operated and managed pool. But maybe the city could donate the water.

However... In the summer my kids LOVE the Oasis and beg for it. They love the sand to dig and bury. They love the gradual incline which lets them choose their own depth. They love the warm water without too much nasty chlorine. They love being outside and jumping off the docks and catching little guppies and getting sticks. It's pretty idyllic for young kids. even during swimming lessons. So far we've missed any rashes.

As a teen, I lifeguarded there and it is a great place when the water is doing well. With the high dive and dock, it accommodates all ages pretty well. It's a little tough for lap swimmers unless you go way out to the poles or they let you use the little inside square. There were many who were disgusted by the oasis and went out to Spotted Eagle which has little to no circulation or regs - EW!! Tourists coming through have loved it too. But I think we could probably still attract them with a "traditional" pool.

I'm still amazed we have an indoor hockey ice center here during the winter months. That was quite a feat! Why not something similar and longwinded for a community pool?

I know many people have stated "we don't need an indoor heated pool" and "I grew up in m.c.. The oasis was fine for me so it's ok for kids today".Well I've got news for all of you. Times are changing and super bugs(bacteria)are here and more are coming. Forget brain eating ameboa or fungus. MRSA and a whole host of other nasty bacteria are out there. It's time this community takes it seriously.The chlorine levels in the oasis can not be brought to a high enough level to kill bacteria without killing wildlife. It's a real problem that only an indoor heated pool can fix or at least make safer.An outdoor pool makes no sense in montana. Please encourage the city council and the mayor to set funds aside to build a community pool.

These are my meandering thoughts:

If the community really wants a pool, less talk more action would be recommended. Approach the city council with a "Lets meet halfway" option. If the residents of MC can raise the funds to build the pool, the city maintains and staffs it. Go to one of the banks in town, open a savings account with the title Miles City Pool Fund, and place Mayor Joe (whom I trust implicitly) as a required signee for funds to be removed (which they shouldn't be until the work is being done). Place ads in the paper and flyers throughout town letting concerned citizens know where to make their pool fund deposits. Get the show on the road.

Option B: Call the Billings YMCA and ask them to build a rec center in Miles City, because if ever a town needed one, it is this one.

On a side note, I don't understand why everyone is so shocked that MC doesn't have a pool when all other towns do considering this town is still in the dark ages as far as hot lunch programs go. If you want to do something for our children, how about making sure they have food at school like every other child in America?

YMCA's require $1,000,000 up front to come into a community. At least, they did a couple of years ago when a pool group talked to the Y folks and I doubt it has changed.

"On a side note, I don't understand why everyone is so shocked that MC doesn't have a pool when all other towns do considering this town is still in the dark ages as far as hot lunch programs go. If you want to do something for our children, how about making sure they have food at school like every other child in America?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Umm, ahh, I guess that isn't hot lunch my kids eat at school every day?

The community only recently implemented a hot lunch program for K-8. High school kids still have to fend for themselves.

Sorry I misunderstood. I did not realize that "If you want to do something for our children, how about making sure they have food at school like every other child in America?" specifies high school-aged children.

And I guess if we are having this discussion against the backdrop of let's say the Stone Age, then yes, hot lunch has only been recently implemented in K-8, as it's only been around for 20 years.

Not in Miles City it hasn't... only pushing 2 years now.

Really? That is why my sister used to refuse to eat the Cowboy Stew and Goulash at school in the late 1980s?

Oh, and my own daughter has been eating hot lunch for longer than that!

[This message has been edited by Denise Selk (edited 11/12/2007).]

actually, i recall that garfield school had/has a hot lunch program during the early 90's as i ate there once with my child. she participated in it sporadically during her elementary years there. i don't know if they existed in the other elementary schools.

The new hot lunch program came about these last two years was for the junior high/middle school youth through community efforts. the hot lunch program did not exist there as i know it since my arrival in MC in 1989. i remember being on a committee in the mid 90's trying to get a hot lunch program started there and there was a lot of contraversy. so glad to see one is there now even though i have no kids left in the school. for the record, hot lunch programs were in existence since the early 60's. not sure why it never caught on in miles city or maybe hot lunch programs became a thing of the past for a while. back then students were not allowed off campus unless you lived within close proximity to the school. my how times have changed.

as far as the swimming pool. it seems that this has been hashed over for the last 30 years. i believe when my brother lived here in the 70's it was a contraversy back then. an indoor pool for exercise and health reasons would be nice. I have always advocated for that as i personally am not able to use the outdoor oasis because of health risks. my daughter had to stop swimming in it because of the same thing and she did participate in the swim teams up till that time. it seems that the oasis was closed a lot more this last summer than it was open and i am not sure it all had to do with water levels, bugs, etc. part of it may have been due to lack of budget to pay the lifeguards etc. i have noticed that the attendance over the past few years has dwindled and i fear that someday we may not even have the oasis.

i agree action is best. I think those of us who have been rallying for this cause for years are tired and have run out of options which always seems to come out to available dollars for maintaining such as operation in these nonprosperious times for our fair city. don't reinvent the wheel. do some research of past attempts. talk to those who have formed past committees, who have been there done that....it may save you the frustration of this project falling on deaf ears.

[This message has been edited by Jackie S (edited 11/14/2007).]

I noticed that I typed K-8 in response to Jonna's statements. I erred, and meant to type K-6. My sister, who is 26, ate hot lunch at school every day during elementary school (except those days of Cowboy Stew and Goulash - picky eater ), so I know that the program has been around for a lot of years. I do realize that it has only been around in the Junior High for a few years.

I am one who has participated in general and finance meetings in looking into the feasibility of a new pool. As has been stated ad nauseum, the bulk of Miles Citians want an indoor pool. I get very frustrated with those that are the most vocal in this regard because they are not dealing with the numbers. Our current pool budget for the Oasis is a tiny fraction of what the O&M would be for an indoor pool. It is not a matter of going to the City Council and saying we will build the pool, you fund the O&M. Where exactly are the funds going to come from to fund this difference?

"But Forsyth, Colstrip, Baker, etc., etc., have pools" is the war cry. I say look and understand their tax bases. As Brian Reed likes to say, it is comparing apples to tanker trucks of McDonalds orange-flavored drink. The bottom line is that it would come down to property owners to fund the difference through property taxes. The uproar regarding the increase of our water assessments to fund a northside water line improvement project and the replacement of the Carbon Hill water tank is deafening. Those are necessities. A pool is a luxury. I can't imagine what the uproar would be from the tax payers in funding a luxury, one that will never be paid for. The O&M is year-in and year-out until the end of time, or the closing of the pool. Quite a commitment.

If you feel so strongly as to the need for an indoor pool facility, form a group and conduct a feasibility study instead of sitting around and complaining about what everyone else is failing to do to get it done. There is NO simple answer until our tax base has changed significantly or a major source of funding is unearthed. Miles City is not living in the dark ages simply because we cannot fund a pool complex. It is simply strapped for cash, and any statement otherwise is nothing short of gossip, innuendo or plain untruth.

Mmmmmm

Cowboy Stew

Mmmmmm

Goulash

I was more of a tator tot hot dish guy myself, but that's just me.

OK, I'm going to go eat now. Sorry for the off-topic post!

Hey Denise...would you know what percentage of Miles City kids get their hot lunches free or reduced? I would be interested to know. Also, what do MC kids pay for a lunch?

Denise, I can't believe your little sister is 26!!!

Mmmm. Tater Hot Dish. I haven't had that in a long time. I was just wondering what to have for supper tonight!

Deer, I do not know the percentages right off-hand. I believe that it was listed in the newspaper while the funding of the new hot lunch rooms was the hot topic. Let me know if you really need to know, and I can give the School District Office a call. The full price for hot lunch is $2.25 per meal. The reduced price is $0.40. The cost for full price breakfast is $1.25 and the reduced price is $0.30.

Cory, I know! She gets completely depressed about the downslide to 30. I tell her at least she's not on the slippery slope to 40 like my husband (and someone else that shall remain nameless! ).