Wishek voters to decide on swimming pool project funding
by Tom Lovik
Wishek voters will decide in June if the city’s 2 percent sales tax revenue will be reallocated to provide more funding to help pay for the new swimming pool project set to begin this spring.
As mentioned in last week’s city council story in the Star and Tribune, council members and officials from the park board and Job Development Authority negotiated a proposed re-distribution of the money the city receives from the sales tax. Currently, the city, park board, JDA and swimming pool project each receive 25 percent of the tax revenue.
In 2025, city sales tax income totaled $652,589 with each entity receiving $163,147. Last month the city council approved a resolution to alter the funding split with the city receiving 25 percent, the park board getting 20 percent, the JDA would see its share significantly cut from 25 percent to 5 percent and the pool project would get 50 percent of the tax money.
However, that reallocation didn’t set well with JDA board members, who felt their revenue stream would be reduced too much. The groups met again at the January council meeting, and following discussion, the percentages were adjusted. The city and park board will still receive 25 and 20 percent, respectively, but the pool project will receive 42.5 percent and the JDA’s share will be upped to 12.5 percent. The reallocation of sales tax revenue will last for two years at which time it will be revisited. Wishek residents will have the final say on the split at the June election.
City Auditor Mary Vickers said the project’s maximum estimated cost is $3,147,150, however explained the hope is that specific costs as construction proceeds will come in lower than anticipated. The project is also hoping to be a recipient of a $500,000 grant from the N.D. Rural Catalyst program. Vickers said she was hoping to hear if that grant was awarded by Feb. 6, but hadn’t received word as of Feb. 12.
A payment schedule has been mapped out by Interstate Engineering of Jamestown, which designed the project, that shows quarterly payments will be made through the third quarter of 2027. If funding comes up short, the park board will look at financing the balance.
The start date of the project is weather dependent, but the plan is to begin demo as soon as possible with construction to begin soon afterwards. Hillerud Construction of Jamestown was awarded the bid to build the pool complex that will include a 75’ x 40’ pool, a splash pad area for young children, fencing and new pumps, heaters and distribution pipes. Hillerud has built several pools for smaller communities in the region, most recently in Steele and Kulm.
Park board president Eric Piatz said local contractors will be used wherever possible during the project. The bid for demolition of the old pool had not been awarded by the deadline for this story, but that phase is expected to begin as soon as the frost comes out of the ground. It is hoped the project will be completed for the 2027 season.
The current swimming pool was built in the late 1930s as a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project during the Depression. The fieldstone bathhouse will be retained since it has been named to the North Dakota Historical Society registry. There will be modifications made to the building that must meet strict guidelines to preserve its historic character.
Park board members began talking seriously about either an upgrade to the existing pool, or a completely new facility, in 2021. Fundraising began and to date the project has approximately $1.4 million on hand, thanks in large part to a generous $500,000 gift from Cleo and Joan Boschee, longtime educators and Wishek residents.
Jessie Fandrich and Staci Just led the first round of fundraising in 2023 by promoting the sale of commemorative bricks that will be included in the design of the new facility. Just how they will be displayed has not been determined. To date 413 bricks have been sold, and the ladies have begun another round of brick sales. Individual 4” x 8” bricks sell for $150 including up to three lines of text. Larger brick groupings are also available that can include engraved artwork.
Many of the bricks sold so far are from families of current or past Wishek residents who have fond memories of swimming in the pool as children.
Fandrich is the contact to purchase bricks, and she can explain purchase options. Her phone number is 701-471-5877, or she can be reached by email at jesjames@bektel.com. Just does the design and ordering of the bricks. The women said orders are being accepted up until the next order date, approximately April 1.
