HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0177.127 1998-2000 24 March 1999
Julie Tulang, Director
Parks and Recreation Department
County of Hawaii RECEIVED..~~11
25 Aupuni Street nm,_~_1gp~'? By.~1~
Hilo, Hawaii 96720 _
pate...-.-~Coun~ ou/~ncil L2~
Dear Ms. Tulang
I am writing regarding your proposal to implement charges for the use of the county
pools. I have been swimming in the Sparky Kawamoto pool regularly for over 15 years.
Being able to swim there has helped me stay healthy and sane. It has been a source of
regular excercise as well as a form of mental therapy for me. Swimming regularly has also
helped me control my allergies and I have been able to avoid using antihistimines that I
would otherwise be dependent upon.
I do not agree with your statement that "few people would stop using the pool"
because of an assessed fee. I have a full time job with a decent salary, yet living expenses
here force me to count my pennies. A $2.00 per use charge would definitely affect my ability
to swim regularly at the pool. Even an additional $4-$6/week expense, to me, would be a
luxury (ie 2.3 days of school lunches for my children) that I could barely afford. If I could
afford it, I would have been swimming in the heated YWCA pool instead, especially during
the winter months. I know there are many other users of the pool in similar circumstances,
inclulding the retirees and students I see regularly. If the county is suffering economically,
then surely you must realize that your citizens are also. I know families who depend on the
pool now for safe, free recreation and who would not be able to afford a trip to the pool, even
just on weekends, if fees were imposed.
I fmd it very difficult to believe that one month you can afford to give keys and
private swimming time to well paid attorneys and others with connections to the
administration and just a few months later, cannot afford to let ordinary citizens swim
during regular hours for free. Perhaps you could let these priveleged citizens pay
exorbitant fees for these special swimming times to help subsidize those of us who cannot
afford a $2 nnr visit fee.
I am definitely against imposing a $2 fee for use of the pool.
Sincerely,
~lvl 11.(
Joanne Imamura Lichty
25 Leimamo Street
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
?cc: Cavneih~tm Arakaki
Comm. No. ~ ~ I
File Na. 6 U D
Ref. To•Pressated CL
Ref. Date 6 ' 99