Pool task force chairman shares goals for project

Fairfield?s pool task force plans to learn preliminary costs for a proposed new pool and recreational facility in the next few weeks.

?Then we?ll talk and have a plan to share with the community,? said Tom McMahon, new chairman of the Recreation Facilities Task Force (Phase 2) at Tuesday?s task force meeting.

A noon meeting for May 8 is scheduled at Fairfield City Hall, with expectations of reviewing preliminary costs for the project.

?My overall goal [for the task force] is to develop a comprehensive plan and raise money to make it happen,? said McMahon who was recently asked to head the task force by its members. ?We don?t know yet what that plan will look like. But we?ll have all the task force members approve a plan and move forward. Plans can change, but we need to develop something we all agree on, that?s important.?

McMahon told the group he was glad to join them.

?It?s important to have good facilities where our residents can enjoy recreation,? he said. ?The work of the first task force was critical.

?The city council tasked this group to plan and seek funds for a new pool and rec facilities at O.B. Nelson Park. Our goal is to present something to the city council and it?s very important to garner community support and participation. We only get one pass at this.

?I?m task-oriented and we were handed this task by our elected officials,? said McMahon. ?We need to develop broad support. No one person can do all the work ? we?re all volunteers here, except Derik, [Wulfekuhle, director of Fairfield park and recreation] with other jobs and responsibilities. We need to use our committees and involve more people.?

Five committees were formed at the previous task force meeting, using the members as chairmen.

?Our task force will operate through these committees,? said McMahon. ?Our next step is to get more community residents on our committees. Anyone who is interested to help with a committee should contact one of us.?

Task force member Dan Breen said he agrees with McMahon about getting only one chance to promote this project.

?And we need to keep sight of the synergy to build both projects at the same time,? added Breen.

Mike Halley, task force member and co-chairman of the Public Relations Committee with Kent Whitney, said they met last week to discuss best ways of getting a message out into the community.

?Of course, we?ll use all of our local media resources, and social media as well,? said Halley. ?We developed a mission statement for internal use. Our committee will develop the words and texts and pass those through this task force.

?One issue we need to deal with is we?re losing our city administrator [Jeff Clawson; his final day is Friday]. Jeff had the most experience overseeing a community build a pool, and he?s leaving.

?The flip-side of public relations is to listen to the community.?

?Our next task force meeting is May 8,? McMahon concluded. ?By then, I hope to be well on our way with adding people to the committees.?

He said the community would have opportunities to give input on a plan before it is finalized.

Andy Pennekamp, an engineer with Burbach Aquatics Inc., in Platteville, Wis., attended Tuesday?s meeting and planned to meet with the Facilities Planning Committee after the task force meeting.

Jane McMahon and Jeff Courtright co-chair the facilities planning.

Jodi Kerr and Tom McMahon co-chair the Finance and Fundraising Committee.

Joe Carr and Breen co-chair the Speakers Bureau Committee.

The Blue Ribbon Committee has not yet been staffed.

Ron Haines, Tammy Dunbar, Ken Daley and Mark Myers also serve on the Recreation Facilities Task Force (Phase 2).