ROANOKE TIMES 

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, March 5, 1990                   TAG: 9003052294
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

PROPOSED INDOOR POOL WOULD BE `REGAL'

IN 1988, Salem City Council held public meetings to receive input from citizens regarding the five-year capital-improvements plan. I appeared before council at that time to present a resolution from the Board of Directors of the Salem Rotary Club requesting that an outdoor swimming pool be included in the plan.

When it was recently announced that Council planned to construct a magnificent indoor competition facility at a cost of "$2.3 million or more," I was appalled. This type of facility serves an entirely different purpose than would an outdoor pool, which could be constructed in fine fashion for about a half-million dollars.

If the taxpayers of Salem can afford and justify such a regal facility, which will most certainly be utilized by a small percentage of the citizenry, then it would also seem that an outdoor recreational facility, built at a fraction of the cost, could also be afforded.

I suggest that such a large, expensive and unusual project be put to a binding referendum. Do we want the proposed indoor facility, an outdoor facility, or both? ROBERT H. LOGAN JR. SALEM 


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