Letter to Editor: Don't fund MAC with taxpayer cash

To the Editor:

After attending the school board meeting on Sept. 14, I understand a little better the devotion of the community to the Mitchell Aquatic Club. But I am still concerned about the mechanisms it is using to obtain funding for its goals.

In meeting the school board members I was impressed at their concern and devotion to the school system. And yet they are willing to gift $17,800 of school funds (taxpayer dollars) to the MAC organization in a way that is probably legal but very questionable.

Do they not realize that this action calls into question all of their financial actions past and future? Friendship is fine but the trust placed by the community for this board needs to be honored as well. The city council led this effort by appropriating $30,000 to the MAC organization. While I am not a lawyer, a quick review of the South Dakota Codified Laws would indicate that this appropriation would not be seen as within limits placed on municipalities.

A condition from the Board of Education and I hope from the City Council, is that in order to get funding the facility that MAC is trying to fund meets school requirements for use and meets all city requirements. I, too, hope that the facility meets all of the requirements of the city as any other commercial organization, as to guarantee the safety and health of the MAC members and any potential use by students of our schools. Special use permits, electrical inspection of pool areas, liability insurance, weekly water quality inspection by the state, proper sanitation areas, and facility security are just some of the issues that need to be addressed and monitored.

Having been a water rescue certified paramedic, I know the value of swimming education, but this is not the goal of the MAC organization. Swimming competition is their focus, and this I feel should not be funded by taxpayer dollars.

Ed Potzler, Mitchell

Tags: mitchell aquatic club, ed potzler, opinion