Comments on: Aquatic Center on Steroids. When did the change occur? (Or, how to use FOIA!) http://www.myvaresources.com/blogs/depotdazed/2010/03/aquatic-center-on-steroids-when-did-the-change-occur-or-how-to-use-foia/ Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:36:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Flood Update for Massachusetts and Rhode Iceland | Hot Daily Gossip http://www.myvaresources.com/blogs/depotdazed/2010/03/aquatic-center-on-steroids-when-did-the-change-occur-or-how-to-use-foia/#comment-152 Flood Update for Massachusetts and Rhode Iceland | Hot Daily Gossip Fri, 02 Apr 2010 11:32:16 +0000 http://myvaresources.com/blogs/depotdazed/?p=1827#comment-152 [...] Aquatic Center on Steroids. When did the change occur? (Or, how to use FOIA!) » Depot Dazed [...] [...] Aquatic Center on Steroids. When did the change occur? (Or, how to use FOIA!) » Depot Dazed [...]

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]]> By: Luci http://www.myvaresources.com/blogs/depotdazed/2010/03/aquatic-center-on-steroids-when-did-the-change-occur-or-how-to-use-foia/#comment-150 Luci Mon, 22 Mar 2010 15:35:52 +0000 http://myvaresources.com/blogs/depotdazed/?p=1827#comment-150 The part of the process that angers me the most is the fact that the building process is taking a very long time. It seems that it is the never ending project. There have been articles in the Roanoke Times about the "aquatic center" and its progression and the come and go opening dates. I just spoke to someone at the aquatics department for the town of Christiansburg and was told that the opening would still be 2-3 months away. This aquatic center had better be great to make the citizens wait to use this facility. My guess is that the townspeople will be waiting longer because since VT is paying a portion of the bill it VT sports will have first use of the facility. The part of the process that angers me the most is the fact that the building process is taking a very long time. It seems that it is the never ending project. There have been articles in the Roanoke Times about the “aquatic center” and its progression and the come and go opening dates. I just spoke to someone at the aquatics department for the town of Christiansburg and was told that the opening would still be 2-3 months away. This aquatic center had better be great to make the citizens wait to use this facility. My guess is that the townspeople will be waiting longer because since VT is paying a portion of the bill it VT sports will have first use of the facility.

]]> By: paul http://www.myvaresources.com/blogs/depotdazed/2010/03/aquatic-center-on-steroids-when-did-the-change-occur-or-how-to-use-foia/#comment-149 paul Fri, 19 Mar 2010 21:30:09 +0000 http://myvaresources.com/blogs/depotdazed/?p=1827#comment-149 if you think the pool will pay for itself in this decade or any other,surprise ,surprise-when your real estate taxes take a leap because c'burg has no money.if it was such a good deal and would bring so much money into c'burg,tell me why b'burg let c'burg get the jump on them and wait until it's your turn to use the pool if you think the pool will pay for itself in this decade or any other,surprise ,surprise-when your real estate taxes take a leap because c’burg has no money.if it was such a good deal and would bring so much money into c’burg,tell me why b’burg let c’burg get the jump on them and wait until it’s your turn to use the pool

]]> By: Dave http://www.myvaresources.com/blogs/depotdazed/2010/03/aquatic-center-on-steroids-when-did-the-change-occur-or-how-to-use-foia/#comment-148 Dave Fri, 19 Mar 2010 19:42:50 +0000 http://myvaresources.com/blogs/depotdazed/?p=1827#comment-148 I agree about the buses. What a horrible idea. Nothing like seeing an empty bus riding around the big city of Christiansburg. I agree about the buses. What a horrible idea. Nothing like seeing an empty bus riding around the big city of Christiansburg.

]]> By: cyrus hall http://www.myvaresources.com/blogs/depotdazed/2010/03/aquatic-center-on-steroids-when-did-the-change-occur-or-how-to-use-foia/#comment-147 cyrus hall Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:43:08 +0000 http://myvaresources.com/blogs/depotdazed/?p=1827#comment-147 i think terpenny should be fired for two reasons(1) the pool folly that cost the taxpayers of c'brg thru the nose so tech and ru could use it (ru dropped out) (2). the incredibly stupid buses for c'burg that nobody and i mean nobody rides. lets clean house in the town council and vote these guys out that condoned this stupidy and will allow terpenny to do even more stupid things in the future i think terpenny should be fired for two reasons(1) the pool folly that cost the taxpayers of c’brg thru the nose so tech and ru could use it (ru dropped out) (2). the incredibly stupid buses for c’burg that nobody and i mean nobody rides. lets clean house in the town council and vote these guys out that condoned this stupidy and will allow terpenny to do even more stupid things in the future

]]> By: Leonard http://www.myvaresources.com/blogs/depotdazed/2010/03/aquatic-center-on-steroids-when-did-the-change-occur-or-how-to-use-foia/#comment-146 Leonard Fri, 19 Mar 2010 12:53:24 +0000 http://myvaresources.com/blogs/depotdazed/?p=1827#comment-146 I'm glad that Dave is able to get all excited about the Aquatic Center. Unfortunately, I don't feel that most of Christiansburg's 20,000 resident's angst is over the fact that there are multiple pools at the center, or that the size of the pool grew from 25 meters to 50 meters. I think that most of their concern is over the price tag growing from $4 million to the now staggering $20 million without the citizens being informed or consulted. Looks like most of the process was behind closed doors and on the hush-hush for obvious reasons. This albatross will likely hang around our necks to remind us of the cost of bad government for a long, long time. Dave sez: "...they could have just put a tiny hole in the ground, filled it with water……maybe that would have been better for Cburg." I don't know about it being better, but it would have been a lot cheaper. Instead they put a big hole in the ground and filled it with our money without our consent. I’m glad that Dave is able to get all excited about the Aquatic Center. Unfortunately, I don’t feel that most of Christiansburg’s 20,000 resident’s angst is over the fact that there are multiple pools at the center, or that the size of the pool grew from 25 meters to 50 meters. I think that most of their concern is over the price tag growing from $4 million to the now staggering $20 million without the citizens being informed or consulted. Looks like most of the process was behind closed doors and on the hush-hush for obvious reasons. This albatross will likely hang around our necks to remind us of the cost of bad government for a long, long time.

Dave sez:
“…they could have just put a tiny hole in the ground, filled it with water……maybe that would have been better for Cburg.”

I don’t know about it being better, but it would have been a lot cheaper. Instead they put a big hole in the ground and filled it with our money without our consent.

]]> By: Carol Lindstrom http://www.myvaresources.com/blogs/depotdazed/2010/03/aquatic-center-on-steroids-when-did-the-change-occur-or-how-to-use-foia/#comment-145 Carol Lindstrom Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:29:33 +0000 http://myvaresources.com/blogs/depotdazed/?p=1827#comment-145 Oh, by the way, RU decided not to participate. Oh, by the way, RU decided not to participate.

]]> By: Carol Lindstrom http://www.myvaresources.com/blogs/depotdazed/2010/03/aquatic-center-on-steroids-when-did-the-change-occur-or-how-to-use-foia/#comment-144 Carol Lindstrom Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:28:25 +0000 http://myvaresources.com/blogs/depotdazed/?p=1827#comment-144 A lot of people are excited about the Aquatic Center. I happen to be one of those and I have been talking it up with customers at the toy store as a great place for future birthday parties. The problem that I do have is about the process. As to that 'other pool' you mentioned, I bet people didn't find out about what they were like and how much they cost after the fact. And, I'd bet that pretty near all of the Board of Supervisors (County Pool) and the Town Council (Blacksburg Pool) could answer simple questions posed by the public. The real issue is the process that was used and if it will be used again in the future for something like, say a Civic Center. Will citizens again be left out of the loop. That's why people are upset and mad. They feel that it was done in a sneaky way. If you read through the notes of those minutes, you'll see where it is hoped that the money from VT will be enough to cover the cost of the larger pool. (The article clearly references you to a source of more detailed information....these pages can be only so long.) As to the cost being made up, there is noted in those minutes that the hope is that 40-60% of the cost of operating the pool will be made up for by memberships and the prices charged for those non-VT groups who will want to rent it. That means taxpayer money only has to cover 40-60%. I have no doubt that the team running the Aquatic Center are the best! They will come up with new and innovative ways to make money while still serving the needs of the community to the best of their ability. The additional point I was hoping to make was that citizens were not made aware. Most of the anger is at the perception that deals were done behind closed doors and citizens were never asked for their opinions. Well, they (the citizens) have a right to know. People like you would have had the right to come out in support of it and perhaps change some of the people against it. An open dialog with people could have created a shared vision of the Aquatic Center that could have stirred community pride rather create so much distrust. A lot of people feel like they were blind-sided with this whole deal. And, if you look at the only source of the discussions concerning the Aquatic Center, the Town Council Meeting Minutes, I think you will see that there are a lot of gaps & leaps in the process that show people were not kept informed. The documents cause it to look like there was an agenda by a few that was shoved down the throats of the many. No evidence exists anywhere available to the public to refute that. As I said, the article was about seeing the process through the eyes of citizens. Town Council members were obviously privy to a lot of information that the public was not made aware of and that just isn't good government. If you can come up with documents speaking to the contrary, please let me know and if I can obtain verifiable copies, I'll be able to post them on the website along with the minutes and the comprehensive plan. A lot of people are excited about the Aquatic Center. I happen to be one of those and I have been talking it up with customers at the toy store as a great place for future birthday parties. The problem that I do have is about the process. As to that ‘other pool’ you mentioned, I bet people didn’t find out about what they were like and how much they cost after the fact. And, I’d bet that pretty near all of the Board of Supervisors (County Pool) and the Town Council (Blacksburg Pool) could answer simple questions posed by the public. The real issue is the process that was used and if it will be used again in the future for something like, say a Civic Center. Will citizens again be left out of the loop. That’s why people are upset and mad. They feel that it was done in a sneaky way. If you read through the notes of those minutes, you’ll see where it is hoped that the money from VT will be enough to cover the cost of the larger pool. (The article clearly references you to a source of more detailed information….these pages can be only so long.)
As to the cost being made up, there is noted in those minutes that the hope is that 40-60% of the cost of operating the pool will be made up for by memberships and the prices charged for those non-VT groups who will want to rent it. That means taxpayer money only has to cover 40-60%.
I have no doubt that the team running the Aquatic Center are the best! They will come up with new and innovative ways to make money while still serving the needs of the community to the best of their ability.
The additional point I was hoping to make was that citizens were not made aware. Most of the anger is at the perception that deals were done behind closed doors and citizens were never asked for their opinions. Well, they (the citizens) have a right to know. People like you would have had the right to come out in support of it and perhaps change some of the people against it. An open dialog with people could have created a shared vision of the Aquatic Center that could have stirred community pride rather create so much distrust.
A lot of people feel like they were blind-sided with this whole deal. And, if you look at the only source of the discussions concerning the Aquatic Center, the Town Council Meeting Minutes, I think you will see that there are a lot of gaps & leaps in the process that show people were not kept informed. The documents cause it to look like there was an agenda by a few that was shoved down the throats of the many. No evidence exists anywhere available to the public to refute that.
As I said, the article was about seeing the process through the eyes of citizens. Town Council members were obviously privy to a lot of information that the public was not made aware of and that just isn’t good government.
If you can come up with documents speaking to the contrary, please let me know and if I can obtain verifiable copies, I’ll be able to post them on the website along with the minutes and the comprehensive plan.

]]> By: Dave http://www.myvaresources.com/blogs/depotdazed/2010/03/aquatic-center-on-steroids-when-did-the-change-occur-or-how-to-use-foia/#comment-143 Dave Thu, 18 Mar 2010 21:25:21 +0000 http://myvaresources.com/blogs/depotdazed/?p=1827#comment-143 I for one am very excited about the center. I noticed that there is some angst about it going from being called a pool....which apparently means a singular hole in the ground with water....to an aquatic center. I do believe there is already a "pool" in the area, and this pool has more than a singular "pool". I am not a member of any private pools in the area, but it would be my guess that even though they call it a pool, in many cases there is actually more than one hole in the ground there. I guess this technically means we should call each pool, "the pools". I would think many of them have kiddie pools. I wonder if, when they built them, they said they were building a pool? I also wonder how upset people were when they opened it and were disgusted to find that they actually had 2 POOLS IN THE SAME PLACE, a regular pool and a kiddie pool (what a bunch of liars!!!) I think the worst thing they could have done was to cheaply put a small pool in the ground and then say to all the residents of Christiansburg: "Here's your crappy little pool...enjoy!" Could you imagine how much fun it would be fitting 20,000 Christiansburg residents and locals cramming into a singular 25 meter pool?????? With all the amazing things they have added (a sweet slide for kids, for one) it will attract many more people. Opening it up to VT and RU ment quite a bit more cost...but again, also bringing more people to visit (a good thing in my opinion....unless you're one of those "not in my back yard" people). I haven't paid much attention to details over the course of the process, but I seem to remember something about VT helping pay for it since they will have the ability to use it. I didn't see anything about that in the article. Either I was wrong, or it didn't fit the slant that was trying to be given. Again, maybe I'm in the minority here, but I do believe this will be a huge plus for the town of Christiansburg and the cost will be easily made up. But then again, they could have just put a tiny hole in the ground, filled it with water......maybe that would have been better for Cburg. I for one am very excited about the center. I noticed that there is some angst about it going from being called a pool….which apparently means a singular hole in the ground with water….to an aquatic center. I do believe there is already a “pool” in the area, and this pool has more than a singular “pool”. I am not a member of any private pools in the area, but it would be my guess that even though they call it a pool, in many cases there is actually more than one hole in the ground there. I guess this technically means we should call each pool, “the pools”. I would think many of them have kiddie pools. I wonder if, when they built them, they said they were building a pool? I also wonder how upset people were when they opened it and were disgusted to find that they actually had 2 POOLS IN THE SAME PLACE, a regular pool and a kiddie pool (what a bunch of liars!!!)
I think the worst thing they could have done was to cheaply put a small pool in the ground and then say to all the residents of Christiansburg: “Here’s your crappy little pool…enjoy!” Could you imagine how much fun it would be fitting 20,000 Christiansburg residents and locals cramming into a singular 25 meter pool?????? With all the amazing things they have added (a sweet slide for kids, for one) it will attract many more people. Opening it up to VT and RU ment quite a bit more cost…but again, also bringing more people to visit (a good thing in my opinion….unless you’re one of those “not in my back yard” people).
I haven’t paid much attention to details over the course of the process, but I seem to remember something about VT helping pay for it since they will have the ability to use it. I didn’t see anything about that in the article. Either I was wrong, or it didn’t fit the slant that was trying to be given.

Again, maybe I’m in the minority here, but I do believe this will be a huge plus for the town of Christiansburg and the cost will be easily made up. But then again, they could have just put a tiny hole in the ground, filled it with water……maybe that would have been better for Cburg.

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