Pond might not be safe
By: Tom Schmitt 08/01/2012
I attended the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board (MPRB) public hearing on Webber Park in February where a “Resolution Approving the Webber Park Master Plan and Authorizing Pursuit of a Natural Water Treatment Pilot Project for the Aquatic Facility” was discussed. Part of that resolution reads, “RESOLVED, That the Board of Commissioners authorize the pursuit of a natural treatment pilot project with the State of Minnesota.” I believed that as presented and discussed the intent was to work with the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) to ensure the success and safety of this project. This apparently did not happen, and will not.
Instead of cooperating with the MDH on just the method of filtration, the MPRB pursued a legislative exemption from all MN laws controlling swimming facilities. The wording in the HF No. 2844 legislation: “If the commissioner determines that this project is unable to provide a safe swimming environment…” it turns the project into an experiment in public health. The public health and safety cannot be assured if it must first be proven that this project is unsafe; that probably requires that someone gets sick or injured first.
It turns out the MDH had already conducted a study “Swimming Ponds in Minnesota: Report to the Minnesota Legislature 2010” published in December 2010. (www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/pools/pondreportleg.pdf.) It states that swimming ponds in MN developed over time…“outside of the regulatory framework for public pools and cannot comply with Minnesota public pool statutory and rule requirements such as water clarity and cleanability issues… Minnesota Rule, Chapter 4717 does not allow for the construction of a new swimming pond.” Experts have already concluded for good reasons that new swimming ponds are not a good idea; the MPRB is choosing to ignore those experts. Our government should not be excused from the rules and regulations we created to protect the public, and that the rest of us are required to follow.
The Webber Park Master Plan has apparently changed from reflecting public input for a safe replacement of an existing community pool, to a vehicle for the MPRB to try a new showcase experiment; an experimental swimming pond not currently legal in MN without special legislation, with our money, and at our risk.
Tom Schmitt,
Victory