Walker reverses decision to close pools moments before public rally

Source: Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors

Pools will remain open for 2009; Petition drive continues for 2010

Milwaukee County Supervisors Marina Dimitrijevic and Johnny L. Thomas and more than 100 Milwaukee County residents gathered this morning to rally support for the Pulaski and Noyes indoor pools, which the County Executive had earlier decided to close until after Labor Day. The Supervisors were joined by Supervisor Chris Larson, Supervisor John F. Weishan, Jr., and a number of pool users disappointed with the County Executive’s prior decision.

Today, moments before both Supervisors Dimitrijevic and Thomas launched a petition drive to collect signatures from hundreds of residents disappointed with the decision, the County Executive informed Supervisors of his decision to reverse course and reopen both pools effective tomorrow. The petition drive will continue to urge the County Executive to keep the pools open in the 2010 County Budget.

“I thank my colleagues on the County Board, and the many taxpaying citizens that were left upstream by the earlier decision, for making calls, sending e-mails, and putting extra pressure on the County Executive to keep these pools open for affordable, rehabilitative water exercises,” said Supervisor Dimitrijevic. “Although the County Executive claims this reversal was due to advice from the Corporation Counsel, we all know that, deep down inside, it was the pressure from the public, including senior citizens, that led to this sudden turnaround. We know the recent negative press played a huge role. It’s no coincidence that this decision was made just moments before our this morning’s news conference.”

“The County Executive’s decision to reconsider this closure is welcome news for the hundreds of people who use these pools each week,” Supervisor Thomas said. “Had he consulted with the County Board and the public earlier, we could have avoided this scenario altogether. As work progresses on the 2010 County Budget, we at the County Board will work to come up with some more creative solutions for these pools, such as restructured hours of operation or a different fee structure.”

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