Shakopee looking at spending $7 million to rebuild SandVenture, one of four sand bottom swimming pools in Minnesota. The pool itself is 50 years old and leaks and the building also needs replacing. City council is very reluctant to unilaterally impose new taxes, so intially they were planning on having a referendum before their legal department told them that under state law they couldn't do that. Now they're looking at creative financing to reduce the need for a new levy as much as possible.
They could essentially replace what they have for $4 million, but they're looking at adding amenities to the pool, turning it into a skating rink in the winter, and building a year round restaraunt / party room to reduce the negitive operating costs for a facility that's only currently open three months of the year. Tommy's Malt Shop would lease and operate a restaraunt on the site that would be open year round. Council agreed in principal for Parks and Recs request for the "Cadillac Rebuild" but did direct them to put some of the "extra" stuff like the new boardwalk and new climbing wall in as bid alternates so they could be cut if the bids come in over budget.
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