DE PERE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – De Pere residents will be voting this November on whether the city should pay for two new pools.
The city’s common council voted unanimously Tuesday night to hold a binding referendum.
After rallying all summer to save their pool, supporters of Legion Pool were confident going into the likely make-or-break vote for their summer hangout.
De Pere resident Beth Hornsbth tells FOX 11…
“We just have to get over this hurdle I think before we really think of what’s coming next.”
Almost two years after voting to eventually close the pools at Legion and VFW Parks in favor of one aquatic center, the common council agreed to cancel those decisions and let voters decide.
“A lot of that was driven by citizens saying what about this, what about that, and that really led to us relooking at the whole thing and deciding, you know what, the information has changed, the factors have changed, so let’s reconsider this decision right now.” said Larry Lueck, an alderperson for De Pere.
The referendum will ask residents if the city should go over its levy limit up to $900,000 to pay for upgrades and operation of the pools at VFW and Legion Parks.
“You can see in the room tonight, the citizens are thrilled,” said Dan Van Straten of De Pere. “This is a huge win.”
While Legion Pool supporters celebrate tonight’s decision, Van Straten tells FOX 11 more work needs to be done.
”I think that is huge. We work with the city, we work with the city council, we work together as neighbors and we find a way to make this happen.”
No one at the meeting spoke in opposition of holding the referendum.
A decision on what type of pools will be put at each park will be made if November’s vote passes.
