Concern over misleading political mailer

DAYTON—Last week, voters in Columbia County received a mailer produced by the Columbia County Conservatives. The local political group asked voters to vote against Proposition 1, which would create a Joint Metropolitan Park District (JMPD) to fund and operate a new pool for the county.

They also requested voters choose CCC endorsed candidates for the JMPD board of commissioners in case the proposition is approved.

Members of The Friends of the Dayton Pool, who have spent the last few years surveying residents, raising money, and developing designs for a new community pool, have voiced concern and anger about what they see are misleading statements used in the mailer.

The Friends of the Pool realized that the costs of construction and the maintenance and operation of a new pool would need a robust infrastructure in place to be successful. Following other cities that have successfully built and operated pools, the Friends decided to put forward to the voters a Joint Metropolitan Park District, which they believe gives the effort the best options for funding and guidance.

Unlike the city pools in Waitsburg and Dayton, which were funded by tax dollars and maintained by the cities, the Prescott pool is funded through an annual levy and maintained and operated by the PJPRD, a junior taxing district established in 1981. Each year, district voters must pass the M&O levy by a 60% supermajority in order to keep the pool operating.

A more comprehensive article about Proposition 1 and the misinformation presented through mailings and on social media will be available soon online at Waitsburgtimes.com.