The decision by Weirton Council, Monday night, to vote down a proposal to designate $1 million toward the replacement of the vessel at Starvaggi Memorial Pool was not the correct choice, and we encourage officials to reconsider as they continue to discuss this much-needed project.
For several years, members of the Weirton Board of Parks and Recreation have reported the pool, opened in 1968 and contributed to the city by Starvaggi Charities, was in need of help. It reportedly reached the end of its useful life in the 1980s, but has remained open through the efforts of the Parks Board and its staff. Today, despite those efforts, it is said to lose approximately 5,000 gallons of water each day it is in use.
As Ward 3 Councilman Fred Marsh, who sponsored the resolution, noted Monday, the proposal was simply to set aside the money so it would be there when the time came for a project to move forward.
"You are not spending this tonight. You are earmarking it," he said.
The resolution received a vote of 3 in favor and 4 against.
We understand there are many projects in the sights of Weirton Council these days. Annual work, such as street paving, will always be on the agenda, and officials have been working to pay down the pension liability for the city's police and firefighters. In recent months, council has discussed the possibility of building a new facility for the police department. Renovations to the Weirton Municipal Building also have been tossed around.
Like them, the condition of Starvaggi Pool has been kicked down the road for years. If something is not done, soon, though, there might not be a pool to fix.
It often is said recreation, while not making money, is a necessary asset for any community. It takes investment to keep it going, not only for current generations but for those in the years ahead. We would urge council to work with the Park Board, consider this a top priority and invest in the community's future.