November 10, 2022 |
Saratoga’s recreation department director reports that she feels good about potential changes for the town if a proposed new aquatic center is built. Bigfoot 99 sat down with Sarah Laughlin to discuss the both the long-term and short-term plans for the rec department.
On Monday, November 7th, the rec board held a public workshop to discuss the results of a survey asking residents what future recreation services they want. According to Laughlin, who declined to allow her recorded comments to be used on air for this report, the community would like to see more youth sports, cleaner parks, and more activities at the pool.
The proposed Platte Valley Aquatic Center was also brought up at the public workshop. As reported by Bigfoot 99, Nick Haderlie presented his plans for an indoor water-sports complex to the town council last Tuesday. To pay for the monthly cost of running the facility, Haderlie proposed town revenues now earmarked for the recreation department budget be redirected to a non-profit corporation he would control. More town revenues than now budgeted for the rec department might be needed, Hadderlie implied in his presentation.
Haderlie said the town rec department would be disbanded and the non-profit would assume responsibility for all recreation duties for the town, and perhaps across the Platte Valley. Laughlin said most people at the public workshop were on board with the idea. Laughlin did not say how many people were at the public meeting or who they were.
If Haderlie succeeds in winning approval for the project, which could cost as much as $16 million, Laughlin would be responsible for overseeing the newly created aquatic center.
Instead of answering to the Saratoga Town Council, she would be beholden to Haderlie’s non-profit corporation’s board of directors. It’s unclear, though, if she would remain a town employee under Haderlie’s scheme. Laughlin said all the activities held in the Platte Valley Community Center gym would move into the completed aquatic center.
All school sports would still use the community center’s facilities, including the gym.
The lines of delineation between the town and the private entity appear blurry at this point in the process.
In the meantime, the rec department is preparing for seasonal holiday events as usual.
At last Tuesday’s town council meeting, Laughlin asked for a special event permit to allow her to organize a Hot Chocolate 5K Run on December 3rd, on Veteran’s Island. The council approved Laughlin’s permit request but the rec board rejected the idea because of a lack of time for planning and recruiting volunteers.
Laughlin said the plan isn’t completely dead. It may still be held sometime early next year.
At the same town council meeting, Laughlin mentioned her plan to host a family Christmas movie night in the Platte Valley Community Center theater. The town council was behind the idea, with Councilman Jon Nelson saying he, personally, supported it.
Pictured above: File photo of Saratoga Town Hall/Police Department. Photo by Cali O’Hare/Bigfoot 99.
Plans for that were changed because of scheduling conflicts with other holiday events being held at the community center.
Instead of the PVCC theater, Laughlin has decided to use the rec center’s gymnasium. She said the kids can bring their sleeping bags and have a fun time. Laughlin hasn’t settled on which movie will be screened, but The Polar Express, The Grinch, and Home Alone have all been suggested. The family Christmas movie night is, tentatively, scheduled for December 20th.
Unrelated to Christmas, Laughlin will host her department’s first Pickleball clinic on Saturday, November 12th from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The entry fee is $20 per person, and all equipment will be provided. Laughlin will have a coach from Rawlins teach the participants how to play. According to Laughlin, Saratoga residents have been requesting Pickleball for years.
The gym will be closed this Friday, November 11th, in honor of Veterans Day.
